North Korea lifts blockade of Kaesong area

  According to KCNA reports, the 16th Politburo Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on August 13. The meeting decided to lift the blockade in Kaicheng and other areas from July 24 due to emergencies that occurred in the forefront areas based on scientific inspections and guarantees by professional epidemic prevention agencies.

  On July 19, a defector illegally crossed the border between North Korea and South Korea to the North Korean city of Kaesong, and was later diagnosed as a suspected case of COVID-19. Kaesong and surrounding areas were subsequently blocked. (Headquarters reporter Dong Haitao)