South Korean lawmakers claim the coronavirus pandemic has caused residents of North Korea’s Pyongyang to stockpile daily necessities.
Citing intelligence, South Korean lawmaker Kim Byung-kee said the border blockade with China “is adding difficulties to North Koreans’ lives and economic activities, and prices of imported goods such as seasoning, sugar and etc. temporarily jumped and the exchange rate for dollar rose.”
Kim said trade between China and North Korea from the first quarter had decreased 55% from the same period last year and March was particularly hard hit with a 91% drop.
“Due to anxiety about prices following temporary jump in prices of food imports, Pyongyang residents stockpiled daily necessities, crowds flocked to department stores and shops, and even lining up occurred,” Kim told reporters.
North Korea has not reported any coronavirus cases but, according to Kim, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it can’t be ruled out given the human exchanges between China and North Korea “were brisk” before the blockade between the two countries was instituted in January.
Why North Korea hasn’t reported a single case: It’s unclear how North Korea has been able to avoid the virus, when its neighbors China, Russia and South Korea have experienced major outbreaks. Pyongyang has either been very lucky, isn’t saying something, or is reaping one of the few benefits of being a so-called “hermit nation.”
