One week into North Korea’s first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak, data published by DPRK state media – to the extent such numbers can be trusted – reveal interesting patterns. 

While overall numbers seem to be declining, regional outbreaks persist. Cities appear to be the primary drivers of rising infections, although their outbreaks appear to be increasingly under control. Regional data also gives clues as to how the initial outbreak might have spread before North Korea announced that omicron had finally reached the country on May 12. Lastly, a glaring difference between national numbers and regional sums hints at an outbreak