North Korea stockpiled masks and vaccines before reporting Covid-19 outbreak

In the months before recognition of its first official outbreak of Covid-19, North Korea suddenly imported millions of face masks, 1,000 respirators and possibly vaccines from China, trade data released by Beijing showed.

Two weeks ago, state media revealed the outbreak, fueling concerns about a lack of vaccines, medical supplies and food shortages. Chinese data shows that even before this announcement, the North began to stock up.

North Korea is not known to have conducted any significant Covid-19 vaccine campaigns.

In February, however, China exported $311,126 worth of unidentified vaccines to its neighbor, according to data released this month.

China has not reported any other vaccine exports to North Korea in any other month this year or all of last year.

From January to April, the last month for which data are available, the North purchased more than 10.6 million masks from China, having not purchased any in December 2021.

In those four months, China also exported nearly 95,000 thermometers, more than 33 times the total value of 2021.

China exported 1,000 non-invasive ventilators to North Korea in April, worth $266,891, as well as lab supplies that can be used in COVID-19 test kits. Other medical imports included rubber gloves and protective clothing.

Overall, China’s exports to North Korea reached US$98.1 million in April, the highest since January 2020, when the value was US$186.8 million.

North Korea has closed its borders to nearly all trade for most of the pandemic, only recently allowing supplies and goods into the country on trains and ships from China.

Three North Korean Air Koryo aircraft arrived in China and returned to Pyongyang last week carrying medical supplies, a diplomatic source said.