One week after announcing a nationwide lockdown to fight the country’s first COVID-19 outbreak, North Korean state media has shown scenes of empty streets but also people farming, working on construction sites and continuing to work in factories.

Now, NK Pro has verified state media’s depiction of the country under lockdown in some cases, with evidence in satellite imagery of continuing work on major construction projects and empty parking lots that are typically busy on weekdays. 

NK Pro previously reported that farming work appeared ongoing along the inter-Korean border despite the lockdown. This is in line with what state media has reported is a situation in which “areas are locked down and working, production and residential units are closed to each other.”

DPRK state media has yet to show scenes of patients inside hospitals or other signs of human suffering to reflect the government’s official death toll related to the outbreak that reached 63 people as of late Wednesday. 

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the number of “fever” cases — a substitute metric for COVID-19 cases due to an apparent lack of available test kits — also increased for the first time since Sunday: Authorities recorded over 262,000 new cases between May 17 and 18, bringing the total since late April to over 1.97 million and over 740,000 currently receiving treatment. 

The above Planet Labs satellite images show what appear to be unusually quiet scenes on Tuesday, May 17 at Pyongyang Station, the Three Revolutions Exhibition House and the Pyongyang No. 1 Department Store near the capital’s central Kim Il Sung Square. 

The images are compared to a few previous Tuesdays, showing more vehicle activity on those days and suggesting activity dropped due to the lockdown in the last week.

In a sign that at least some state media reports on continuing economic activity are accurate as well, the above images show what appears to be new construction work ongoing between May 11, 15 and 16 at one of the DPRK’s top construction projects for this year, the Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm.

The Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm construction site appeared active this week (specifically May 15-16) after nationwide lockdown orders were announced on May 12 | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

Korean Central Television (KCTV) reported from the Ryonpho construction site on May 17, interviewing workers and musicians with a state propaganda troupe who said they were observing strict quarantine and disinfection rules. 

Other imagery shows signs of ongoing farming at another large-scale greenhouse farm up the east coast near Chongjin between May 16 and 17, and in ordinary fields in the city of Hamhung. The Hamhung central train station also appeared active in the same span, another sign of economic activity. 

Workers also appeared to continue dismantling a South Korean-owned floating hotel in the east coast Kumgang tourist zone in recent days, according to Planet Labs imagery.

The Jungphyong Vegetable Greenhouse Farm near Chongjin appeared active between May 16 and 17 | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

A large object newly appeared on the dock beside the Haegumgang Hotel between May 14 and 17, suggesting dismantlement continued under lockdown | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

The main railway station and agricultural fields also appeared active May 15-17 in the large city of Hamhung on the east coast | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un last week reportedly ordered major construction sites to stay open and to not delay their deadlines despite the lockdown, and state media has urged the agricultural sector to keep up production and fight the effects of drought. 

A review of satellite imagery of most major North Korean cities in recent days also did not turn up evidence of outdoor spaces such as public squares and football fields being used as field hospitals, as state media continues to report low numbers of deaths and downplay the severity of symptoms citizens are experiencing amid the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Edited by Arius Derr