Severe side effects of North Korea’s mobility control… “I was shot at the border while looking for food”

It is reported that the side effects of North Korea’s inter-regional movement ban measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) are serious.

Sources have reported that the phenomenon of extreme food shortages is being spotted everywhere, and even the death of a resident in a gunfire while wandering around the border between North Korea and China to find food.

A source from North Pyongan Province told Daily NK on the 13th that “people who have to move to do business or to get food are not currently moving at all.” “This has led to a significant increase in families suffering from severe food shortages.”

It is reported that North Korea upgraded its quarantine stage last month to super-high-level emergency quarantine measures and banned the movement except for some supplies and personnel.

A source said, “Even if it is difficult in the city (such as Sinuiju), you can get food, but the circumstances are different in the provinces,” he said. “It should be allowed to eat and live.

It is said that while metropolitan cities such as Sinuiju are equipped with basic stores and distribution infrastructure for mobility control, it is not difficult to obtain food, whereas in rural areas, circumstances are difficult.

Due to natural disasters such as typhoons and floods, last year’s cropping situation was poor and even the movement of people and goods was controlled, and there seems to be a sign of serious food shortages in areas that lack basic infrastructure.

Previously, this paper reported that some local residents were carrying rice in and out of nearby rural areas in a late-night march to get food, and the North Korean authorities responded by ordering stronger movement controls. : “Rice in rural areas” Report on vehicle movement control·Enforcement order)

A source also said, “There were reports of people dying of starvation (the rumor has been) every year, but now, people who actually die of starvation are coming out. “The problem is serious with the unsuccessful family.”

In particular, it is reported that some people were shot while walking around the border in search of food, adding to the regret.

The source said, “There are people who have been shot and died because they asked if they had anything to eat or picked up anything by the river.

At the end of August last year, North Korea issued a decree with the main idea of ​​“immediately shooting targets approaching within 1-2km of the border”. For this reason, there are continued stories that the guards are shooting people or animals approaching the border. (▶ Related article: Endless in the new year ‘shot’… “inCatching birds flying”)

Meanwhile, it is reported that residents have strong doubts about the authorities’ claim that the corona is a clean area.

A source said, “There were also people who checked to see if they were wearing masks before entering the store, and they were cracking down on masks even going to the bathroom because there was no virus (virus),” he said.

According to the Corona 19 country-specific situation report released on the 1st by the World Health Organization (WHO), North Korea conducted 23,140 corona19 diagnostic tests on a total of 11,707 people until December 17 last year, but there are no confirmed cases. Did. North Korean authorities are also claiming that there have been no cases of coronavirus.