From ventilators to masks, North Korea’s medical imports from China surged before admitting it had coronavirus

North Korea only admitted its first coronavirus case on May 12 after more than two years of being cut off from the rest of the world

China’s total exports to North Korea reached US$98 million in April, the highest level since February 2020

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered all cities to be put under lockdown after the state for the first time said it had coronavirus in its borders earlier this month. Photo: AP

Published: 10:30am, 27 May 2022Updated: 1:23pm, 27 May 2022

North Korea has been importing a large amount of coronavirus-related medical supplies from China since January, including a spike in purchases of ventilators, patient monitors and face masks, despite only admitting its first infection earlier this month.

The isolated nation of some 26 million people only admitted its first case on May 12 after more than two years of cutting itself off from the rest of the world, fuelling concerns over North Korea’s fragile economy and medical system.

Chinese exports of therapeutic respiration equipment to North Korea, which stood at zero in 2021, started to appear in January, with trade valued at US$2,769.

According to the Chinese customs database, the export value of the therapeutic respiration equipment in April represented a hundredfold increase compared to January, and it mainly comprised of 1,000 non-invasive ventilators – which are usually used to alleviate low blood oxygen levels and shortness of breath among coronavirus patients – valued at US$266,891.

The data also showed an export of 1.4 million face masks to North Korea in January, suggesting Pyongyang has been stocking up on protective equipment at least since earlier this year.

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