Grim report on conditions

Russia’s embassy in North Korea says the country is suffering severe shortages of medicines and necessary goods.

Despite claiming to be coronavirus free, North Korea has sealed off its borders as part of stringent antipandemic measures that also included the departure of diplomats and foreign nationals.

In March, the last two international U.N. staffers, both with the World Food Program, reportedly left the country. The Russian Embassy says 38 foreign nationals who left North Korea on March 18 ended their twoweek quarantine in the Chinese border city of Dandong and said the “exodus” of foreigners will continue.

“Those leaving the Korean capital can be understood — not everyone can withstand total restrictions unprecedented in their severity, an acute shortage of necessary goods, including medicines, and the inability to solve health problems,” the post said.

It said fewer than 290 foreigners remain in the capital of Pyongyang.