North Korea built a wall on its borders during the pandemic.

the news agency Reuters and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies of Montereyin the United States, analyzed images and testimonies of defectors who pointed to the possible construction of a wall on North Korea’s borders with China and Russia, during the 2020 pandemic.

The institutions used satellite images from the Google Earth Pro It is Maxar Technologies Inc. to investigate the construction, but it was not possible to recover images of parts of the borders. From the parts they managed to study, those responsible noted an instrument of at least 489 km made of wires and concrete walls, in addition to possible guard posts due to the length of the wall.

One of the researchers middleburyDave Schmerler, pointed out that the construction took place in an area that has no natural barriers.

One of the reasons for its construction may have been to prevent North Koreans from fleeing the country. What would prevent the passage of information from the country to the outside.

Escapes from the country are something North Korea has been paying attention to in recent years. The stricter measures that were applied seem to have made a difference. In 2019, official data showed that 1047 North Koreans fled to South Korea, this number dropped to 67 in 2022.

North Korea has not commented on the possible construction, but in a speech last year on Covid-19, Kim Jong-un cited a wall on borders and coastal areas, with one of the main objectives to protect against Covid-19. and unknown threats.

Experts point out that one of the most affected is the mercantile class in the region, which used to benefit from informal and formal trade. Furthermore, there will be no escape route for residents of North Korea who find themselves disaffected or in danger.

Featured photo: Photo of portraits of former North Korean leaders Kim II Sung and Kim Jong II taken in the city of Dandong, China. Playback/REUTERS.