In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, North Korea announced the suspension of flight and rail services exactly one year ago. This has decimated what little engagement the country had with the outside world.

An unprecedented number of diplomats and aid workers have left Pyongyang, foreign trade levels have dropped to near zero and authorities have introduced a shoot-on-sight policy in border areas, among other restrictions.

Even though Pyongyang still claims it has not had a single case of COVID-19, it has only increased pandemic restrictions over time. And while vaccines are beginning to circulate worldwide, there’s no