(Photo) A photograph taken from China of Hyesan while under lockdown. Said the Chinese photographer, “All the people have disappeared.” February 8, 2021 (ASIAPRESS)
◆ Lockdown ordered to prevent smuggling and defection, not coronavirus
According to multiple reporting partners, the lockdown in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, which began on January 29, was lifted at midnight on February 15.
Related Articlefa-arrow-circle-right ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Crime and Suicide on the Rise as Border City Residents Face Starvation in Second 30-Day Lockdown
Hyesan had been placed in lockdown for the second time since November of last year- despite no coronavirus infections being detected. According to sources, the reason behind the lockdown was prevention of smuggling and defections at the Chinese border. Authorities had declared such activities to be particularly dangerous, pointing to the risk of coronavirus being brought into the country by people illegally travelling to and from China.
◆ Deaths rising due to lack of access to food and medicine
During the lockdown, markets were closed and residents were forbidden from leaving their homes, making it very difficult to obtain daily necessities.
According to a resident of Hyesan, “Many people died because they couldn’t get medicine despite being sick. There will also have been a significant number of deaths due to starvation.”
The lockdown in Hyesan was originally set to last for 30 days but was lifted slightly earlier. Authorities reportedly explained to residents that this was due to “the many people with living difficulties.” Though the lockdown is now over, some have been warned that the lockdown could be resumed at any time if authorities detect further smuggling or illegal crossings along the Chinese border.
A reporting partner explained, “A small number of illegal activities are causing everyone in Hyesan to suffer. We have been told at the inminban (local political unit) meetings to report suspicious activities committed by those among us.” The intention of such an order, one can infer, is to impose responsibility on all residents.
Though Hyesan was originally placed in lockdown under the pretext of coronavirus prevention, the true purpose of the order seems to have been strengthening border control and preventing defections. (Kang Ji-won)
※ASIAPRESS contacts its reporting partners in North Korea through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.
- ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Several Defectors Shot and Killed at Chinese Border: Poverty and Starvation Forces Residents to Choose Between Deadly Border Crossing or Suicide (2021-02-10 10:58:32)
- ＜Emergency Interview on North Korea＞ A woman living in Hyesan City under lockdown, speaks in a painful voice: “If this continues, I will starve to death.” (2021-02-08 17:57:07)
- ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Nationwide “Compost Battle” Begins: Kim Jong-un’s Huge Demand for Home-Made Fertilizer Spurs Human Feces Thievery (2021-02-01 10:01:59)
- ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Running out of Juice: Regional Cities Receiving Just 2 Hours of Tap Water and Electricity per Day (2021-01-27 18:25:02)
Editor’s notes on North Korean reporters
ALL REPORTS >>>
ARCHIVE(pdf) >>
DPRK MAP >>
![[Video Report] N.Korea Regulation Officer at Market](https://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/444-150x150.jpg)
