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Report Exposes North Korea’s ‘Zero Cases’ Claim as Deadly Deception

Rare interviews show regime denial of infections fueled shortages worsened by rejection of international assistance

No pedestrians are seen in front of Pyongyang's main train station amid growing fears over the spread of COVID-19 on May 23, 2022.
People wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus walk in Pyongyang amid the scorching summer heat on July 20, 2021.
Employees spray disinfectant at a department store in Pyongyang on March 18, 2022.
People wearing face masks for protection against Covid-19 walk in Pyongyang on Aug. 19, 2021.

Overview

  • The CSIS and George W. Bush Institute released their report on June 17 based on interviews with 100 North Korean residents conducted in the second half of 2023.
  • Pyongyang maintained a ‘zero cases’ narrative until May 2022 despite widespread suspected COVID-19 infections and deaths beginning in 2020.
  • Citizens had virtually no access to COVID-19 testing, vaccines, antiviral medications or personal protective equipment during the early years of the pandemic.
  • Strict border closures, market lockdowns and movement restrictions intensified existing food and medicine shortages across the country.
  • Local officials underreported cases and residents concealed symptoms to avoid punishment, further obscuring the true scale of the outbreak.