North Korea's Economic Crisis Deepens as COVID Restrictions Persist

Human Rights Watch reports that North Korea's stringent COVID-19 measures have severely impacted its economy and people's livelihoods, with trade and movement heavily restricted.

• North Korea's COVID-19 border controls and heightened security measures have significantly hampered trade and movement, leading to a deepening economic crisis.
• Human Rights Watch highlights the severe impact on informal trade networks and the livelihoods of North Koreans, with defector numbers sharply dropping.
• Satellite imagery reveals extensive border fortifications, including expanded fencing and increased security facilities, aimed at preventing cross-border movement.
• The crackdown on informal markets and foreign cultural influences, including the distribution of South Korean media, has intensified, with harsh penalties imposed.
• Experts warn that North Korea's delayed normalization from COVID-19 and the damage to smuggling networks are exacerbating the country's isolation and economic challenges.

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