COVID-19 has accelerated the effects of North Korea sanctions, the Commander of United Nations Command Robert B. Abrams said Thursday, meaning Pyongyang’s primary focus is now on overcoming the growing consequences of the virus.

Because of a border shut-down to prevent COVID-19, the DPRK’s ability to import goods from China has dropped significantly, Abrams said during remarks issued to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“If you just look back at the sanctions of 2017, those dropped Chinese imports by about 50% – and then they rebounded last year,” he explained. “With the border shutdown of COVID-19, (North