23 photos show what life in North Korea is like during its coronavirus lockdown

north korea coronavirus

North Korea has implemented a number of measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, though its claims of zero cases and fatalities is highly unlikely.
The government has halted tourism and shut down most of its border, though trade with China has continued.
Photos from inside the country in recent weeks show residents and workers taking precautions such as wearing masks and gloves.
But images of cramped classrooms and government meetings show challenges in implementing social-distancing measures, and experts have noted that the country lacks a healthcare infrastructure to combat a pandemic.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Like most countries around the world, North Korea has taken a number of drastic measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hermit Kingdom has so far reported zero cases and zero fatalities, though it's unlikely that's actually true.

Photos from inside the country in recent weeks show masked residents and workers, temperature checks, and efforts to disinfect imported goods and public transportation.

Amid the lockdown, speculation has also run rampant regarding the whereabouts of the country's leader Kim Jong Un, who hasn't been seen in public since April 11.

Here's what life inside North Korea looks like as the country battles the outbreak.

DON'T MISS: What we know about Kim Jong Un's 3 possible heirs

North Korea's government acted early to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and appears to have taken the threat seriously.

Source: Reuters

First, it suspended foreign tourism in late January.

Source: 38 North

The country also said it quarantined 10,000 of its citizens and all of its diplomats.

Source: The New York Times

In February, it closed down its 880-mile border with China almost entirely.

Source: 38 North

Despite the measures, and images of masks and disinfectant, experts have remained highly skeptical of North Korea's ability to contain an outbreak — decades of sanctions and widespread poverty have gutted the country's healthcare infrastructure.

Sources: The New York Times, Business Insider

Chinese authorities even warned residents in border cities not to stray too close to North Korea, lest they be shot by North Korean guards.

Source: Reuters

"We're told that we may get killed if we get too close to the border area," one restaurant owner in Jian, China, told Reuters.

But international curiosity about North Korea has remained, and South Koreans are still flocking to their northern border to catch a glimpse of the mysterious country.

North Korea's economy relies on China for trade, and it didn't close off imports and exports entirely — but it did implement strict new disinfectant guidelines for imported goods.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Photos from inside the country in recent weeks have shown North Korean residents and workers taking precautions, wearing masks and gloves.

Healthcare workers have been seen educating North Koreans about coronavirus symptoms and prevention measures.

A university in Pyongyang, the nation's capital, implemented temperature checks before allowing students back on campus after a vacation.

Photos from the university's classrooms showed the students wearing face masks during lessons, though they appeared to be sitting close together instead of the recommended six feet apart.

The students could also be seen cleaning their classrooms before taking their seats.

The country's most important holiday on April 15 still drew crowds to commemorate the birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and Kim Jong Un's grandfather.

Citizens donned face masks to lay flowers near the statues of Kim Il Sung, and the former leader Kim Jong Il.

North Korea has claimed the country has no coronavirus cases, and no fatalities. That’s almost impossible to believe, experts have said, due to its extensive and ongoing trade with China, the former epicenter of the virus.

Source: 38 North

North Korea experts have also noted that a huge swath of the population suffers from conditions like malnutrition and disease — prime conditions for the outbreak to spread.

Source: 38 North

Rural communities are particularly vulnerable to poverty and a lack of healthcare resources.

The World Health Organization said it was receiving weekly updates from North Korea, and had sent testing kits and protective equipment to the country. But as of early April, no positive cases had been reported.

Source: Reuters

North Korea's state-run media has reported that the government has called for stricter coronavirus measures, though photos of a parliamentary meeting revealed that none of the top officials — including Kim Jong Un — were wearing masks or keeping a safe distance from one another.

Source: AFP

The country's secrecy around its likely coronavirus outbreak isn't unusual — the government has also tried to conceal the fact that Kim Jong Un hasn't been seen in weeks.

Rumors have run rampant that the leader could be gravely ill after a surgery, or hiding from the coronavirus. Satellite images have since revealed a number of signs that Kim could be staying in a resort town, but the mystery will likely remain until Kim reappears.

Source: Business Insider, 38 North

North Korea's government acted early to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and appears to have taken the threat seriously.

First, it suspended foreign tourism in late January.

The country also said it quarantined 10,000 of its citizens and all of its diplomats.

In February, it closed down its 880-mile border with China almost entirely.

Despite the measures, and images of masks and disinfectant, experts have remained highly skeptical of North Korea's ability to contain an outbreak — decades of sanctions and widespread poverty have gutted the country's healthcare infrastructure.

Chinese authorities even warned residents in border cities not to stray too close to North Korea, lest they be shot by North Korean guards.

"We're told that we may get killed if we get too close to the border area," one restaurant owner in Jian, China, told Reuters.

But international curiosity about North Korea has remained, and South Koreans are still flocking to their northern border to catch a glimpse of the mysterious country.

North Korea's economy relies on China for trade, and it didn't close off imports and exports entirely — but it did implement strict new disinfectant guidelines for imported goods.

Photos from inside the country in recent weeks have shown North Korean residents and workers taking precautions, wearing masks and gloves.

Healthcare workers have been seen educating North Koreans about coronavirus symptoms and prevention measures.

A university in Pyongyang, the nation's capital, implemented temperature checks before allowing students back on campus after a vacation.

Photos from the university's classrooms showed the students wearing face masks during lessons, though they appeared to be sitting close together instead of the recommended six feet apart.

The students could also be seen cleaning their classrooms before taking their seats.

The country's most important holiday on April 15 still drew crowds to commemorate the birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and Kim Jong Un's grandfather.

Citizens donned face masks to lay flowers near the statues of Kim Il Sung, and the former leader Kim Jong Il.

North Korea has claimed the country has no coronavirus cases, and no fatalities. That’s almost impossible to believe, experts have said, due to its extensive and ongoing trade with China, the former epicenter of the virus.

North Korea experts have also noted that a huge swath of the population suffers from conditions like malnutrition and disease — prime conditions for the outbreak to spread.

Rural communities are particularly vulnerable to poverty and a lack of healthcare resources.

The World Health Organization said it was receiving weekly updates from North Korea, and had sent testing kits and protective equipment to the country. But as of early April, no positive cases had been reported.

North Korea's state-run media has reported that the government has called for stricter coronavirus measures, though photos of a parliamentary meeting revealed that none of the top officials — including Kim Jong Un — were wearing masks or keeping a safe distance from one another.

The country's secrecy around its likely coronavirus outbreak isn't unusual — the government has also tried to conceal the fact that Kim Jong Un hasn't been seen in weeks.

Rumors have run rampant that the leader could be gravely ill after a surgery, or hiding from the coronavirus. Satellite images have since revealed a number of signs that Kim could be staying in a resort town, but the mystery will likely remain until Kim reappears.

Trending Articles