North Korea Lets Relax the Covid‑Lockdown in Pyongyang
After admitting the first wave of COVID-19 weeks ago, the isolated country says the virus has calmed enough that it can wink at restrictions in its capital, Pyongyang.
What Went Down?
- Earlier this month, the Gen.‑Kim regime declared a state of emergency, slapped nationwide lockdowns on, and worried the world about vaccines, drugs, and food—tight on resources everywhere.
- Fast‑forward to Sunday, May 29: Seoul’s Kyodo news agency reports that the North has lifted the rules in the city. The source? A nameless voice from Beijing.
- South Korea’s unification ministry clerk hinted they couldn’t confirm the story because KCNA (North Korea’s state media) made no public announcement.
- Meanwhile, Kim Jong‑un himself chaired a politburo meeting to “re‑dial” anti‑epidemic policies, noting the first wave was now “improving.”
- The North’s KCNA said it wanted to test its ability to enforce new guidelines given the so‑called “stable” situation.
Numbers That Are a Little Unclear
- Clock‑in: 100,710 febrile folks flagged “fever” as of last evening.
- Death tally: 70 casualties, slightly up from the early out‑break numbers.
- Testing is a secret sauce: no official count of positive cases is released. Experts say the real figures might be skewed, given testing supplies are scarce.
But Is There Truly a Threat?
Experts whisper that the numbers could be under‑reported, making it a challenge to gauge the true scale of the situation. Still, the North’s government is sounding a “we’re back on track” tune—what a relief for them, right?
In Summary
North Korea’s first COVID‑19 wave is reportedly calming, prompting a rollback of city‑wide lockdowns. Numbers keep shifting, and testing remains limited, so keep that caution in your pocket. (And don’t forget to check if you can trade momo for masks—who knows, it could be a quirky market twist!)
