North Korea has apparently eased its strict mask mandate, a move that comes as a surprise after months of maintaining stringent COVID-19 measures. While there has been no official announcement from North Korean state media, recent images shown on television and in newspapers depict crowds of people without masks at various locations.
This change in approach is seen as a stark departure from previous coverage, which consistently emphasized the importance of mask usage. Analysts from NK News, a Seoul-based site that monitors North Korea, noted the contrast in media portrayals dating back to September.
According to unnamed sources cited by U.S.-based Radio Free Asia (RFA), residents, factories, and social groups were reportedly informed that the mask mandate had been lifted as of July 1. The decision was purportedly made due to concerns about the spread of skin and eye infections arising from the use of used masks and rigid mask control measures.
It is worth noting that last August, North Korean state news agency KCNA announced the removal of the face mask mandate, along with other social distancing rules, as the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, declared victory over COVID-19. However, just one month later, the authorities reversed their decision and reinstated the mask requirement for public spaces, citing the possibility of flu and infectious diseases during the fall and winter seasons, without explicitly mentioning COVID-19.
The strict COVID-19 controls implemented by North Korea have been criticized in the past, with South Korea's spy agency revealing that some defectors fled the country in May due to the oppressive nature of these measures. Furthermore, a United Nations report published last year condemned North Korea's COVID-19 restrictions, stating that they exacerbate human rights violations within the country.
While the reasons behind North Korea's apparent easing of its mask mandate remain unclear, observers are watching closely to see if this marks a significant shift in the country's COVID-19 approach or if it is just a temporary adjustment.