The vast majority of countries around the world have left behind the strict pandemic policies of the recent past, abandoning mask mandates and social distancing as virus fears have eased and people have returned to their normal routines.

But in the alternate reality of North Korean state media, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases are continuing to ravage populations beyond the safety of the DPRK’s borders.

Throughout this year, both domestic-facing outlets like the Rodong Sinmun and external-facing outlets like The Pyongyang Times have reported on a near daily basis about COVID-19 woes in other countries.

And while state media has