Article Text:
North Korea has prided itself on claiming victory over the Covid-19 pandemic, stating it lost only 74 lives in what officials termed “an unprecedented miracle.” However, a new investigation reveals that this assertion was built on lies that deprived the populace of essential healthcare and support. A recent report, prepared by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies and the George W. Bush Institute, presents a starkly different narrative, backed by interviews from 100 residents in North Korea.
The report highlights a catastrophic deterioration in the health and economic conditions of ordinary citizens, worsened by the government's refusal to acknowledge the pandemic's spread during its first two years. The authors, drawing insight from clandestine conversations, report that many individuals witnessed horrific conditions, including overwhelming death rates in nursing homes during winter 2020, with one witness stating there weren’t enough coffins for the deceased.
Surprisingly, Covid-19 was rampant in North Korea well before the government acknowledged its first outbreak in May 2022. The report states, “The government’s negligence was nothing short of abominable,” indicating severe inadequacies in healthcare provisions, such as the lack of vaccines, antiviral drugs, and personal protective equipment, despite global availability.
The plight of nearly 90% of interviewees was highlighted, revealing they had no access to Covid testing, and around 40% had not received any vaccine during the pandemic. The atmosphere of fear and repression meant that locals misreported illness out of concern for punishment; reporting sickness led to potential detainment or community lockdowns, compounding existing food shortages.
All in all, the grim findings expose the struggles of North Koreans amidst a pandemic, revealing the stark contrast between the government's narrative and the painful reality faced by its people.
North Korea has prided itself on claiming victory over the Covid-19 pandemic, stating it lost only 74 lives in what officials termed “an unprecedented miracle.” However, a new investigation reveals that this assertion was built on lies that deprived the populace of essential healthcare and support. A recent report, prepared by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies and the George W. Bush Institute, presents a starkly different narrative, backed by interviews from 100 residents in North Korea.
The report highlights a catastrophic deterioration in the health and economic conditions of ordinary citizens, worsened by the government's refusal to acknowledge the pandemic's spread during its first two years. The authors, drawing insight from clandestine conversations, report that many individuals witnessed horrific conditions, including overwhelming death rates in nursing homes during winter 2020, with one witness stating there weren’t enough coffins for the deceased.
Surprisingly, Covid-19 was rampant in North Korea well before the government acknowledged its first outbreak in May 2022. The report states, “The government’s negligence was nothing short of abominable,” indicating severe inadequacies in healthcare provisions, such as the lack of vaccines, antiviral drugs, and personal protective equipment, despite global availability.
The plight of nearly 90% of interviewees was highlighted, revealing they had no access to Covid testing, and around 40% had not received any vaccine during the pandemic. The atmosphere of fear and repression meant that locals misreported illness out of concern for punishment; reporting sickness led to potential detainment or community lockdowns, compounding existing food shortages.
All in all, the grim findings expose the struggles of North Koreans amidst a pandemic, revealing the stark contrast between the government's narrative and the painful reality faced by its people.
