NK News (file) | A mural depicting Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il outside Pyongyang, Aug. 14, 2018
North Korea appears to be going through another major turning point in its history. The government, while always reclusive, has decided to step up its self-imposed information blockade and dramatically reduce interaction with the outside world.
These developments began before the pandemic, but the outbreak of COVID-19 has only helped authorities to justify harsher measures and policies.
North Korea appears to be going through another major turning point in its history. The government, while always reclusive, has decided to step up its self-imposed information blockade and dramatically reduce interaction with the outside world.
These developments began before the pandemic, but the outbreak of COVID-19 has only helped authorities to justify harsher measures and policies.
Andrei Lankov is a Director at NK News and writes exclusively for the site as one of the world's leading authorities on North Korea. A graduate of Leningrad State University, he attended Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University from 1984-5 - an experience you can read about here. In addition to his writing, he is also a Professor at Kookmin University.