The streets of central Pyongyang appeared almost completely empty at midday Saturday as authorities forced millions of the city’s residents into lockdown due to “rising” cases of an unspecified respiratory illness, possibly COVID-19, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

But authorities brought out thousands of civilians to the empty streets in order to practice for the upcoming Feb. 8 military parade, suggesting the timing of the lockdown may have more to do with ensuring the parade’s success than addressing a sudden or severe outbreak. 

Planet Labs high-resolution imagery shows the streets around