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| The village of Gaepunggun in North Korea from the border area of Paju, Gyeonggi-do. 2020.9.8/News1 © News1 Reporter Kim Myung-seop |
It is known that all foreign employees of the World Food Program (WFP) who remained in Pyongyang, North Korea, have left North Korea.
According to Free Asia Broadcasting (RFA), WFP Asia-Pacific spokesman Kun Li said on the 18th (local time), “Employees who have worked in North Korea for more than one year are taking vacation to meet their families.” Left,” he said.
“Even if foreign employees do not reside in Pyongyang, the WFP office will continue to operate,” Lee said. “North Korean employees will continue to work temporarily in Pyongyang and foreign employees overseas.”
NK News, an American media outlet specializing in North Korea, also cited multiple sources, saying that about 25 foreigners living in Pyongyang left the country. “There is currently no foreign employee in the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in North Korea.”
Some observers say that it will be difficult for these foreign employees who left Pyongyang to return to North Korea for the time being, given that North Korea’s border blockade to prevent the influx of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) is prolonged. In this case, the international community’s support for North Korea through WFP, etc., may also face difficulties.
As part of the corona 19 quarantine measures departing from China, North Korea has completely blocked the entry of residents and foreigners through the border between North Korea and China since the end of January last year, and has also suspended flights and international trains to and from China and Russia.
Regarding this, Jerome Sobaju, former head of the Pyongyang Office of the UN Development Program (UNDP), said, “The absence of foreign employees in North Korea such as international organizations can halt all humanitarian activities.” Without it, it would be almost impossible to deliver aid supplies to North Koreans.”