"North Korea says 'No need for COVID-19 quarantine cooperation'... but uses 3M and DuPont protective suits"

UN Panel of Experts on North Korea Sanctions Interim Report

The appearance of protective suits worn by North Korean quarantine personnel, revealed in the interim report by the UN Security Council's Panel of Experts on North Korea Sanctions Committee on the 28th (local time). The '3M' brand is clearly visible on the left chest area. [Image source= Interim Report of the Panel of Experts on North Korea Sanctions Committee]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] In North Korea, where imports of COVID-19 quarantine supplies are restricted due to sanctions, it has been revealed that protective suits used are actually foreign products such as 3M and DuPont. North Korea previously rejected offers of quarantine cooperation from South Korea and the U.S. government, stating that there were no confirmed COVID-19 cases within the country and thus no need for such supplies.

On the 28th (local time), the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee released photos through an interim report by its expert panel, revealing that North Korea imported overseas protective suits, which are among the items subject to sanctions. The photos showed North Korean quarantine personnel wearing protective suits from foreign brands like 3M and DuPont.

The appearance of protective suits worn by North Korean quarantine personnel revealed in the interim report of the expert panel published by the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee on the 28th (local time). The DuPont logo is visible on the left chest area of the quarantine personnel on the right side of the photo.
[Image source: Interim report of the expert panel of the North Korea Sanctions Committee]

Earlier in March, as concerns grew internationally about civilian harm in North Korea due to COVID-19, calls were made to partially ease sanctions on quarantine supplies. On March 25th, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, mentioned North Korea along with Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, urging that "broad sanctions on countries experiencing the coronavirus pandemic must be urgently reassessed."

However, since North Korean authorities have not acknowledged a single confirmed case and have maintained that there is no harm, partial easing of sanctions on quarantine supplies has not been implemented. Previously, the Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun stated, "The world is surprised that a malignant infectious disease that even advanced quarantine countries cannot control has not entered Joseon," maintaining the position of "zero confirmed cases" in North Korea. Even after South Korea and the U.S. government proposed quarantine cooperation, North Korea did not respond.