Two weeks after announcing its first COVID-19 outbreak in May this year, North Korea said that anyone spreading “rumors” about or misinterpreting the virus could face the death penalty, according to a photo of a notice from the Ministry of Public Security posted in Pyongyang and seen by NK Pro. 

The decree came amid heavy state media coverage about COVID-19, quarantine policy and case numbers, as well as claims of victory over the virus as “fever” cases dropped. Analysts told NK Pro at the time that North Korea, which has initiated no known vaccine campaign, was highly