The North Korean authorities publicly executed a citizen as punishment for violating the restrictive measures imposed amid the coronavirus. This was reported by Radio Free Asia, citing sources.
“Since late November, the [Korean Workers' Party] Central Committee has stepped up existing emergency quarantine measures to 'ultra-high-level emergency quarantine measures,'” a resident of North Pyongan Province (Pyonganbuk-do) on the border with China told the publication.
“They staged a public execution by firing squad in order to scare local residents in the border zone, as there was a lot of contact with people on the other side of the border, including a lot of smuggling,” the source said. The sentenced to death was a man in his 50s who was accused of smuggling with Chinese business partners across a border that was closed for most of 2020.
China is North Korea's largest trading partner and aid sponsor, but trade between the two countries has dropped 75 percent due to the pandemic. Fearing that smugglers might introduce the virus, the DPRK authorities have increased their military presence at the border to enforce restrictions.
In November, it was reported that people were executed in North Korea, the capital was closed, and fishing and salt mining were suspended.
Despite North Korea's public statements that the country is free of the virus, the government has decided to impose strict measures to prevent its spread, including imposing lockdowns in cities and counties, canceling major cultural events and banning travel between provinces.
