The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has been told by North Korean counterparts that local staff should not be allowed internet access, the organization told NK News this week.

“IFRC recently received communication from the government via Red Cross Society of DPRK that as per domestic laws and regulations our local staff should not have access to the internet,” an IFRC representative told NK News on Monday.

DPRK nationals working with foreigners in the government, NGO, and business sectors are already prohibited from using the internet, raising questions as to why the instruction has been