North Koreans in Pyongyang appear to be panic-buying food in large quantities, an informed source in the city told NK News on Tuesday, amid rumors that officials could order a new multiday lockdown over infectious disease concerns as soon as midnight.

The source reported that Pyongyang citizens are buying large amounts of food at stores, as well as a notable buildup in traffic throughout the day. A similar phenomenon occurred in April 2020, when the DPRK significantly reduced official imports from neighboring China.

The number of North Korean staffers conducting body temperature checks at entrances to stores and public venues