North Korea Tightens Its Borders To Build A 'Wall Of Defense' Against Covid-19

 

CNN: Kim Jong Un is cutting off his economic lifeline, China, to stave off Covid-19 

(CNN)Kim Jong Un appears to have kicked North Korea's pandemic prevention plan into overdrive, further tightening the country's nearly impassible borders, cutting off nearly all trade with China, and even allegedly executing a customs official for failing to handle imported goods appropriately. 

Beijing exported just $253,000 worth of goods to Pyongyang in October -- a drop of 99% from September to October, according to data published by China's customs administration. 

For context, that's less in terms of dollar value than China exported to Liechtenstein and Monaco during October. 

China is North Korea's biggest trading partner and effectively the Kim regime's economic lifeline -- the country basically doesn't import significantly from anywhere else. 

Before major UN sanctions were put in place as punishment for North Korea's nuclear weapons program in 2016 and 2017, Beijing accounted for more than 90% of Pyongyang's foreign trade. 

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WNU Editor: It looks like there is no need to enforce sanctions against North Korea. Kim Jong-un is doing it anyway.

 More News On North Korea Tightening Its Borders 

North Korea tightening borders to build ‘wall of defense’ against COVID-19 -- FOX News/NYPost North Korea reinforces border control amid mounting Covid-19 worries -- Straits Times 

N. Korea steps up virus control along inter-Korean border: state media -- Korea Herald/Yonhap 

North Korea toughens rules of entry to sea to fight virus -- AP 

North Korea puts further restrictions on seawater entry to fight pandemic: state media -- the Hill 

S Korean Spies Say DPRK Executed Lockdown Rule-Breakers, Shut Down Pyongyang in War With COVID-19 -- Sputnik