What is the reason for exodus from North Korea?

North Korea is again in news not for good cause. One of the world’s strictest lockdown implemented North Korea is facing both food and medicines shortage. North Korea is the country is now witnessing an exodus of foreign diplomats and workers. 

Even though United Nations imposes sanctions on North Korea, World Health Organization (WHO) is to be allocated 1.7 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to the country. North Korea claims that zero coronavirus cases in the country. But WHO officials suspect the numbers given by North Korea. Except in implementing the harsh lockdown, North Korea didn’t take initiative in developing the vaccines.

Citing food shortages and a lack of medical aid amid one of the world’s strictest coronavirus-induced lockdowns, the Russian Embassy in North Korea said a vast number of foreign diplomats and NGO workers had fled the country. An exodus is underway in North Korea. Several other countries, including Britain, Brazil, and Germany, have also shut their foreign embassies in North Korea over the past few months, reports indicate. In December, the United Nations said it no longer had staff in the country.

Reportedly, grocery stores began running out of food following Pyongyang’s decision to almost entirely stop imports in September. Russia’s Embassy in Pyongyang said diplomats in the country are facing an acute shortage of essential goods sparked by coronavirus restrictions and noted an ongoing exodus of foreign diplomats from the isolated country. As per Russian embassy, only 290 expatriates within North Korea, including just nine ambassadors. All foreign personnel working for NGOs and humanitarian organizations have left the country. Soon after the division of Korea, North Korea has concentrated in building ballistic and nuclear missiles but not on development.