North Korea still running COVID import center despite easing border controls



Analysis North Korea still running COVID import center despite easing border controls Continued activity at pandemic-era facilities suggests authorities see political value in strong inspection regime Colin Zwirko March 22, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Korean workers wearing protective outfits unload imported goods \| Image: June 6, 2022) North Korea continues to use a large converted airport to process and possibly disinfect rail freight imports from China, despite significant easing of pandemic border restrictions in the last six months, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery. The latest activity points to the possibility that Pyongyang wants to maintain state control of commerce and prevent the spread of politically dangerous media using facilities originally constructed to help keep out COVID-19. Planet Labs imagery shows the Uiju airport complex near Sinuiju, across from China’s Dandong on the northwest DPRK coast, has remained busy Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Suspected North Korean drone base and factory face construction slowdown 02Lessons from chaos: What Kim Jong Un sees in an era of global turmoil 03In 2024, Kim Jong Un swaggered on the global stage like never before 04Military dominates Kim Jong Un’s attention in his busiest year in nearly decade 05How Trump’s return could transform North Korea’s quiet ties with Thailand 06How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties 07All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024 08No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia 09What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care 10North Korean Il-76 cargo planes make rare flights to northeast coast

Analysis

North Korea still running COVID import center despite easing border controls

Continued activity at pandemic-era facilities suggests authorities see political value in strong inspection regime

Colin Zwirko March 22, 2024

North Korea still running COVID import center despite easing border controls

North Korean workers wearing protective outfits unload imported goods | Image: June 6, 2022)

North Korea continues to use a large converted airport to process and possibly disinfect rail freight imports from China, despite significant easing of pandemic border restrictions in the last six months, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

The latest activity points to the possibility that Pyongyang wants to maintain state control of commerce and prevent the spread of politically dangerous media using facilities originally constructed to help keep out COVID-19.

Planet Labs imagery shows the Uiju airport complex near Sinuiju, across from China’s Dandong on the northwest DPRK coast, has remained busy

01Suspected North Korean drone base and factory face construction slowdown
02Lessons from chaos: What Kim Jong Un sees in an era of global turmoil
03In 2024, Kim Jong Un swaggered on the global stage like never before
04Military dominates Kim Jong Un’s attention in his busiest year in nearly decade
05How Trump’s return could transform North Korea’s quiet ties with Thailand
06How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties
07All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024
08No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia
09What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care
10North Korean Il-76 cargo planes make rare flights to northeast coast

North Korea still running COVID import center despite easing border controls

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Colin Zwirko