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04 December 2020The North Korean authorities have publicly executed the death penalty by shooting a citizen.
His fault is having violated the restrictions imposed to counter the pandemic due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The news was broadcast by Radio Free Asia which cited its sources on the spot.
North Korean authorities publicly declare that there is no virus in the country and, nevertheless, have imposed restrictive measures, including lockdowns for entire cities and certain districts.
Last April, Pyongyang extended "emergency quarantine measures" until the end of the year.
In late November, the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea raised emergency quarantine measures to the "ultra-high" level.
The execution of the death penalty took place on 28 November in a town on the border with China, officially closed last January.
The executed man was a 50-year-old North Korean smuggler, one of those who manage to cross the border, illegally importing Chinese goods into North Korea.
To stop illicit trafficking, the North Korean authorities have strengthened the border guards with special forces units, giving the order to shoot on sight anyone approaching the border at a distance of 1 kilometer, regardless of the reasons for their presence.
Subsequently, the border with China was mined.
China is the main trading partner and sponsor of the North Korean regime, but due to the pandemic, trade has dropped by 75%.