Pyongyang: soldiers on China border reduced to starvation

They were sent to the border to enforce the anti-pandemic blockade. Since April, supplies have decreased in quality and quantity. Locals now fear being robbed and mistreated by starving troops. Kim loosens restrictions: increase in imports from China.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - North Korean soldiers deployed on the border with China to ensure the anti-pandemic blockade are starving, writes Daily NK citing its own sources from the province of Chagang.

According to the publication linked to the Ministry of Unification of South Korea, North Korean troops of the Seventh Corps and the "Storm" corps received regular supplies of food until March. Since April, stocks have decreased in quality and quantity.

Residents in areas along the border now fear food being stolen from them and being mistreated by starving soldiers. These are military formations subject to intense propaganda, sent to the border to enforce health restrictions.

The Kim Jong-un regime claims that it has not registered any cases of contagion from Covid-19. However, since the outbreak of the pandemic crisis, the North Korean authorities have closed the land and sea borders.

The blockade also affected those with China, on which Pyongyang depends politically and economically. With an increasingly troubled economy, Kim has begun to ease the restrictive measures.

According to data from the Beijing customs authorities, North Koreans imported Chinese goods worth 10.9 million euros in March: in February, imports had stopped at 2,500 euros. Last month's figure is the highest since September, when Pyongyang imported products worth 15.8 million euros from China.

• borders
• korea
• north korea
• pyongyang
• china
• beijing
• kim jong-un
• soldiers
• military
• hunger
• coronavirus
• pandemic
• virus
• covid-19
• import