March 28, 2024
Analysis

One year of COVID-19: The humanitarian impact of North Korea’s border lockdown

Foreign aid, personnel and funding have plummeted while thousands of North Koreans continue to suffer

The community of international humanitarian workers in North Korea was already on the decline before COVID-19 hit, due to a chronic shortage of funding and growing sanctions. But when Pyongyang closed its border a year ago, it also imposed new restrictions on domestic movement that effectively suspended the efforts of remaining humanitarian workers. 

The consequences of these restrictions have been significant.

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