Historical Background
North Korea is an isolated, secretive country with a closed-off economy. Closed its border from the outside world to protect itself from diseases, terrorism and other destabilizing forces. As a result, North Koreans are largely unaware of the dangers of the coronavirus. In 2020, a global pandemic swept the world, but it appeared that North Korea had successfully stayed shielded from Covid-19 infections. However, in May of 2020, North Korean authorities announced that its seemingly secure borders had been breached. This led to speculation regarding the origins of the coronavirus in North Korea and how the virus crossed its borders.
Reopening North Korea
During early 2020, North Korea took a precautionary approach to the coronavirus pandemic. The country placed itself into a strict state of isolation, closing their borders to outsiders and engaging in a large-scale shutdown of movements to and from the country. Such policies served to protect the people of North Korea from the dangers of the coronavirus, yet even with its closed borders, the virus managed to find a way in. This raises questions regarding the country’s security policies and suggests that there might have been a lapse in enforcing its border closure measures.
Risk of Entry
Although the spread of the virus to North Korea is surprising, it is not unheard of. After all, the virus can enter the country in a number of ways – through travelers returning from abroad, smuggled goods and supplies, or the use of illicit means of transportation and communication. Such modes of entry are especially feasible in a country with a history of economic sanctions and an insecure border. Furthermore, the ease with which travelers, goods, and information can find their way across the North Korean border provides a potential channel for introducing new viruses, as well as other dangerous infections.
Evaluating North Korea’s Response
Given the potential for the virus to enter North Korea through a variety of means, the effectiveness of the country’s response to the pandemic should be evaluated. In doing so, it is worth noting the steps taken by the North Korean government in trying to contain the virus. For example, the government has implemented wide-ranging safety measures, from shutting down the country’s railway system to imposing a series of lockdowns. In addition, North Korean authorities also engaged in a heavy-handed approach to enforcing these safety protocols.
International Implications
The arrival of the virus in North Korea has implications beyond the country’s borders. The entry of the virus into North Korea is concerning given the nation’s close relationship with its neighbor, China. Given that the virus has probably reached North Korea via Chinese citizens, if the virus spreads in North Korea undetected, there is a significant risk that it could spread across the Chinese border. This could prove catastrophic, given the size of China’s population, and could have damaging implications for the entire global community.
The Great Wall of North Korea
Given the severity of the potential implications of the coronavirus pandemic, it is clear that North Korea and the global community need to take the issue seriously. To do this, effective measures must be taken to protect North Korea’s borders. To this end, steps have already been taken to improve security measures along the North Korean border to prevent the virus from entering. In addition, experts have suggested that more needs to be done to strengthen North Korea’s “Great Wall” – the border between the two countries.
Infrastructure Improvements
In order to protect the North Korean population and its neighbors, there must be an increase in the frequency and quality of border crossing checks. This will require an increase in the number of security personnel stationed at the border, as well as the provision of modern surveillance technologies. In addition, the construction of new, secure infrastructure along the North Korean border can help to further strengthen security. This can be done by investing in transportation networks, fences, and surveillance systems along the Korean border, as well as improving border crossing points.
Proposed Solutions
Apart from infrastructure improvements, there are a number of other measures that could be taken to protect North Korea from the virus. These include the implementation of policy measures such as travel restrictions, increased border controls and quarantine procedures, and better screening of travelers entering the country. In addition, education programs could be conducted in order to raise awareness of the dangers posed by the virus and the importance of taking preventive measures.
Mass Testing
Finally, North Korea would benefit from the introduction of mass testing for the virus. Mass testing is a crucial tool in the fight against the spread of the virus and can help to detect and isolate cases before they are able to spread further. Furthermore, if a case of the virus is detected in North Korea, rapid response protocols should be enacted to reduce the risk of transmission. Mass testing has also been used successfully by other countries, such as South Korea, to contain the virus and protect their citizens.
Prevention and Detection
Although the entry of the coronavirus into North Korea is a cause for concern, it also raises the issue of how the virus can be prevented from entering the country in the future. This is something that the North Korean authorities and the global community must work together to solve. In addition, if the virus does manage to enter North Korea, it is crucial that the country has a system in place that is able to detect cases quickly and take effective steps to contain them. If this is achieved, it will be possible to protect North Koreans from the virus and to ensure that the virus does not spread to its neighbors.
