North Korea Requests 'Strengthened Quarantine Measures' at Foreign Missions in the Country Regarding Defectors' Return to the North

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] North Korea recently announced that a defector suspected of having symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) crossed back into North Korea. In response, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a notice to foreign diplomatic missions stationed in the country, repeatedly urging strict compliance with quarantine rules.

The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang posted on its social media platform Facebook on the 29th (local time), stating, "On the 28th, we received a notice from the Protocol Department of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

The embassy introduced, "Regarding the risk of a fatal and destructive disaster occurring in Kaesong City and the transition of the national emergency quarantine system to the highest emergency level, the Protocol Department once again notified diplomatic missions and international organization staff stationed in Pyongyang about the code of conduct they must follow."

According to the embassy, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested diplomats not to leave Pyongyang or travel to other regions and to strictly comply with the mandatory wearing of masks on public transportation when going out in the city.

They also asked to refrain from visiting crowded places and to avoid moving in groups of four to five or more people.

Additionally, they ordered not to hold large-scale staff participation events such as banquets, to thoroughly implement the requirements of local service providers and medical institutions related to quarantine measures, and to refrain from hiking Yongaksan Mountain in the Mangyongdae district of Pyongyang.

Furthermore, if symptoms suspected of infection such as fever or cough appear, they requested to notify the Pyongyang "Friendship Hospital" and to refrain from applying for staff entry or goods import permits through the border.

North Korea stated that a defector suspected of being infected with COVID-19 crossed the Military Demarcation Line from South Korea back to their hometown Kaesong on the 19th and raised the national emergency quarantine system to the highest emergency level on the 25th.