A joint report by U.S. research institutes claims that North Korea's claims of a miraculous Covid-19 victory were drastically overstated, leaving citizens without necessary healthcare and support.**
North Korea's COVID-19 Deception: A Harrowing Reality Unveiled**
North Korea's COVID-19 Deception: A Harrowing Reality Unveiled**
New reports reveal North Korea severely misrepresented its pandemic response, leading to significant suffering and loss among its citizens.**
North Korea has portrayed its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as a remarkable success, claiming it lost merely 74 lives, a narrative touted as “unprecedented” globally. However, a recent investigation reveals a starkly different reality—one marked by systematic misrepresentation and profound human suffering. The report, released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the George W. Bush Institute, indicates that the North Korean government drastically understated both the extent of COVID-19 outbreaks and the fatalities associated with them.
During the pandemic, the poor economic and health circumstances faced by ordinary North Koreans deteriorated further, particularly in the initial stages, owing largely to the government's refusal to admit the virus was spreading. Interviews with 100 individuals from within North Korea, conducted through discrete conversations facilitated by intermediaries, shed light on the true scale of distress experienced during this period.
One poignant account from a female interviewee highlighted the severity of the situation in nursing homes, where demand for coffins far outstripped supply amidst high mortality rates. The report explicitly states that citizens suffered acutely from COVID-19 far before the regime announced its first outbreak in May 2022, describing the government's neglect of public health as “abominable.”
Notably, the report highlighted the alarming lack of access to vaccines, antiviral medications, and even basic personal protective equipment, which were widely available internationally. Approximately 90% of those interviewed had never undergone testing for COVID-19, close to 40% had not been vaccinated at all during the pandemic, and nearly all suspected they or acquaintances had contracted the virus.
Local health authorities reportedly falsified COVID-19 case numbers and fatalities, driven by the fear of reprisal for contradicting the official narrative of zero cases. Citizens also refrained from reporting illnesses, as doing so could lead to punitive actions or exacerbate their existing food shortages due to enforced lockdowns.
The findings serve as a grim reminder of the intersection between politics and public health in North Korea, revealing a catastrophic failure that underscores the dire need for transparency and accountability in the region.
During the pandemic, the poor economic and health circumstances faced by ordinary North Koreans deteriorated further, particularly in the initial stages, owing largely to the government's refusal to admit the virus was spreading. Interviews with 100 individuals from within North Korea, conducted through discrete conversations facilitated by intermediaries, shed light on the true scale of distress experienced during this period.
One poignant account from a female interviewee highlighted the severity of the situation in nursing homes, where demand for coffins far outstripped supply amidst high mortality rates. The report explicitly states that citizens suffered acutely from COVID-19 far before the regime announced its first outbreak in May 2022, describing the government's neglect of public health as “abominable.”
Notably, the report highlighted the alarming lack of access to vaccines, antiviral medications, and even basic personal protective equipment, which were widely available internationally. Approximately 90% of those interviewed had never undergone testing for COVID-19, close to 40% had not been vaccinated at all during the pandemic, and nearly all suspected they or acquaintances had contracted the virus.
Local health authorities reportedly falsified COVID-19 case numbers and fatalities, driven by the fear of reprisal for contradicting the official narrative of zero cases. Citizens also refrained from reporting illnesses, as doing so could lead to punitive actions or exacerbate their existing food shortages due to enforced lockdowns.
The findings serve as a grim reminder of the intersection between politics and public health in North Korea, revealing a catastrophic failure that underscores the dire need for transparency and accountability in the region.
