◆ The biggest issues facing people are the lack of food and medical supplies
―― We’ve heard that there’s a severe lack of medical supplies for those in isolation in another area of the country. What about where you are?
B: The authorities are isolating people for 25 days if they show signs of fevers and colds. I’ve heard they have organized “medical supply provision teams” to provide supplies to those in urgent need through inminban (people’s units), not through hospitals. That’s because the authorities are worried that doing checkups on people in hospitals could lead to the spread of infection. I’ve heard that fever patients will be getting cold medicine from China…
※ It is not clear whether isolation periods in areas outside of Musan are also 25 days.
―― How about food distribution to those in isolation?
B: I’ve heard that food is being acquired and supplied by the local government (people’s committee) and companies, not the central government, but they say there’s a total lock of food available. The leadership is saying that people with COVID-19 symptoms will be fine if they just endure for a couple days.
―― Are there people dying of disease or starvation?
B: I don’t know how many people have died because I haven’t been able to go outside.
―― Are the markets still open?
B: They were closed on May 15. White rice now costs KPW 5,800 a kilogram, while corn costs KPW 2,900 a kilogram. The prices have risen because food sellers are holding back from selling their goods due to the fact that the authorities are enforcing strong price controls.
※ On May 6, white rice was KPW 5,200 a kilogram while corn was KPW 2,700 a kilogram. KPW 5,000 is around KRW 1,000.
―― We’ve heard from you before that mobile phone service is poor when calling other areas in North Korea. Has anything changed?
B: It’s still difficult to connect with others in the country by phone, but not impossible.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
- ＜N. Korea’s COVID-19 pandemic＞ Reports of people dying following the lockdown of Hyesan, Yanggang Province…The authorities fail to provide medicine and medicine to those in isolation…The Kim Jong-un regime is intent to prevent information leaks about the situation (2022-05-24)
- ＜Interview from Inside N. Korea＞“Nobody would know if isolated people die in their homes”…Severe shortages of medical supplies and food…No state rations for people in quarantine (2022-05-20)
- ＜Interview from Inside N. Korea＞ People are afraid of starvation if cities are locked down…PCR tests don’t exist…ASIAPRESS interviews a N. Korean to better understand the situation in the country and how people are feeling (2022-05-17)
- ＜Breaking News from Inside N. Korea＞ A report about the COVID-19 situation from a party member in North Hamgyung Province: Those with fevers are placed in isolation and their apartment buildings are put under lockdown, People continue to go to work and the markets remain open, People are more scared of lockdowns than the disease (2022-05-16)
- ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Theft of car parts is rampant in North Korea. Thieves immobilize vehicles by stealing tires, mirrors to sell on the black market...Few car parts make it over the border due to the pandemic (2022-05-14)
![[Video Report] Wholesale Black Market Prospering with Prohibited Goods](https://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/rim06_market03_18-150x150.jpg)
