North Korea's expat community shrinks as more diplomats and NGO workers leave

COVID-19

North Korea’s expat community shrinks as more diplomats and NGO workers leave

COVID-19 prevention measures and tough lifestyle restrictions are squeezing out Pyongyang's foreign community

Chad O'Carroll August 20, 2020

North Korea’s expat community shrinks as more diplomats and NGO workers leave

NK News

The expat community in Pyongyang shrunk again on Thursday, with more diplomats and humanitarian workers leaving as a result of strict COVID-19 prevention measures that have significantly hampered their work since January, multiple informed sources told NK News.

A number of Polish, Czech and Mongolian diplomats left by land and were accompanied by five nongovernmental organization (NGO) personnel, the sources said — just days after details emerged that two Swedish diplomats left the country.

About the Author

Chad O'Carroll

Chad O'Carroll is the founder of NK News/NK Pro and related holding company Korea Risk Group. In addition to being the group's CEO, O'Carroll is a frequent writer and commentator about the Koreas, having written about the two nations since 2010. He has visited the DPRK multiple times, worked and lived in Washington, D.C. with a focus on peninsula issues, and lived in the ROK since 2016.

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