Even as North Korea continues to tighten the proverbial reins to block the spread of COVID-19, the authorities continue to hold mask-free events aimed at the domestic population and international community.
This demonstrates a lack of basic consistency in quarantine efforts.
In an article published Monday, the Rodong Sinmun called on North Koreans to “properly understand” the “global health crisis that grows worse by the day,” and to more thoroughly adhere to quarantine regulations.
The newspaper added that the rapid spread of the highly contagious “stealth variant” — which can also evade vaccine protections — is making the situation even worse.
By pointing to the increasing spread of “stealth Omicron,” which is reportedly more contagious than ordinary Omicron, and the supposed ineffectiveness of vaccines against the new variant, North Korea is apparently seeking to quiet public discontent with the country’s failure to adopt vaccines, while at the same time putting people on alert regarding quarantine efforts.
In fact, Daily NK’s reporting has determined that North Korean authorities have taken their quarantine efforts aimed at the public up a notch from the start of April.
A Daily NK source in South Pyongan Province said Tuesday that the authorities ordered quarantine stations in every region to remain alert and intensify their inspections. He said this is making inter-region travel more difficult.
Every April, controls on movement grow tougher ahead of late national founder Kim Il Sung’s birthday on Apr. 15, with authorities granting fewer travel certificates. This year, however, the authorities ordered the quarantine stations that verify quarantine compliance to intensify their enforcement, rather than the Ministry of State Security checkpoints that control movement itself.
Moreover, the authorities have reportedly issued almost no entry permits into Pyongyang this month.
The source said you used to be able to bribe officials to get “approval numbers” to enter Pyongyang for official business or weddings and funerals, but not anymore. He said you cannot pass through quarantine stations even with travel papers.
In particular, the authorities have reportedly greatly bolstered the number of personnel at quarantine stations, an indication of just how strict passage through the stations have become.
Another source in the country told Daily NK that paratyphoid has been on the rise lately, and this has become an opportunity to strengthen quarantine efforts. The waterborne disease spreads through contaminated waterworks and sewer facilities, and is accompanied by high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Paratyphoid is not a communicable respiratory disease, but because it demonstrates similar symptoms to COVID-19, North Korean authorities are apparently intensifying quarantine efforts.
In contrast to the tightening quarantine controls put on local residents, North Korea has convened a series of mask-free events, demonstrating to the outside world the nation’s confidence regarding quarantine efforts.
In fact, nobody wore masks during the Sixth Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly in February, a fact the authorities put on full domestic and international display through the KCNA, Rodong Sinmun, and other local media.
North Korea has held mask-free events when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in attendance. However, for attendees to go mask-free at an event without Kim present is extraordinary.
Likewise, none of the attendees wore masks at a symposium for officials of the Central Committee’s Propaganda and Agitation Department held last month. Nor did they practice social distancing, sitting close together.
Earlier this year, North Korea appeared to be easing controls on movement as it ostensibly shifted from control-focused quarantine efforts to “advanced, people-friendly” guidelines. However, the country is apparently intensifying controls once again as the COVID-19 pandemic continues worldwide and a disease with similar symptoms rages in North Korea itself.
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