Six years ago, at the start of the 2020 pandemic, North Korea found itself in a dire situation. Without having a full-fledged medical infrastructure to combat the coronavirus, the country introduced a regime of strict isolation. The closure of the borders led to a sharp drop in trade with China, the main partner and patron of the DPRK. Without imported materials, raw materials and components, many enterprises stopped. There was a shortage of clothing, shoes and even food in the country, and their prices increased several times. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly acknowledged economic difficulties.