North Korea’s Fortress: How the Pandemic Led to a Wall and Limited Escape Routes
In response to the global pandemic, North Korea implemented stringent measures to seal its northern borders, effectively tightening control over
Nik Richie
In response to the global pandemic, North Korea implemented stringent measures to seal its northern borders, effectively tightening control over informal trade routes and making it more challenging for defectors to escape.
The regime introduced enhanced security features along the Yalu and Tumen rivers, as well as in rugged areas like Mount Paektu. These measures included additional and upgraded fencing, walls, and guard posts, aiming to restrict access and control the flow of people and goods across the border.
For North Koreans, the northern frontier had long provided rare opportunities for access to outside information, trade ventures, and a potential escape route. However, as the pandemic took hold in 2020, Kim Jong Un’s regime launched a comprehensive operation to seal the borders with China and Russia, effectively cutting off routes utilized by smugglers and defectors.
Commercial satellite imagery reveals that Pyongyang has constructed hundreds of kilometers of new or reinforced border fences, walls, and guard posts since then. These developments have enabled the regime to tighten its control over the flow of information and goods into the country while preventing the entry of foreign elements and keeping its citizens within its borders.
The fortified borders serve as a metaphorical fortress, symbolizing North Korea’s determination to isolate itself from external influences and maintain strict control over its population. The pandemic has provided an opportunity for the regime to reinforce its grip on power and limit any potential threats that may arise from contact with the outside world.
As the world grapples with the effects of the pandemic, North Korea’s actions highlight its commitment to maintaining a closed society, further isolating its people from the global community. The intensified border security measures represent a significant shift in the country’s approach, signaling the regime’s determination to safeguard its control and prevent any disruption to its authoritarian rule.