Analysis
One year of COVID-19: When will North Korea reopen its borders?
North Korea will likely maintain its lockdown until 2022 – and thousands of ordinary people will suffer as a result
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, North Korea announced the suspension of flight and rail services exactly one year ago. This has decimated what little engagement the country had with the outside world.
An unprecedented number of diplomats and aid workers have left Pyongyang, foreign trade levels have dropped to near zero and authorities have introduced a shoot-on-sight policy in border areas, among other restrictions.
