North Korea's 'No Mask' Show Over? Sudden Mask Wearing at 7th Party Congress

Days 1 to 6: No Mask Wearing, Boasting About Quarantine Success

North Korea continued the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party for the seventh day, and on the 11th, held sectoral consultations on military, industry, and agriculture, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 12th. Attendees are wearing masks.

North Korea, which showed scenes of not wearing masks during the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party, suddenly revealed mask-wearing from the 7th day of the congress, drawing attention.

The Workers' Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on the 12th that a sectoral consultation meeting was held on the 7th day of the 8th Workers' Party Congress the previous day to study the draft decision on the summary of the Central Committee's work. The appearance of General Secretary Kim Jong-un was not seen.

Looking at the related photos in the report, except for the speakers, all attendees on the stage and in the auditorium are wearing masks. Since the opening of the 8th Party Congress on the 5th, North Korea has shown participants, including General Secretary Kim Jong-un, not wearing masks throughout the congress.

In particular, although there was speculation that the party congress schedule might be shortened due to COVID-19 prevention measures, thousands of people have been spending about a week in the meeting hall without masks.

According to the broadcast footage from Korean Central TV, not only were masks not worn, but social distancing by sitting one seat apart was also not implemented. Participants, all without masks, filled the corridors and were viewing photos of General Secretary Kim on a white horse or sitting in his office.

There was speculation that this indirectly shows North Korea's confidence in COVID-19 prevention.

North Korea continued the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party for the seventh day, and on the 11th, held sectoral meetings on military, industry, and agriculture, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 12th.

Then, various interpretations have emerged regarding North Korea starting to wear masks from the 7th day of the party congress. It is pointed out that North Korea's 'no-mask' stance was merely a 'show' for external display.

Earlier, the North Korea specialist media Daily NK cited sources saying that attendees had to wear masks until the moment they entered the 4.25 Culture Hall where the party congress was held, and all removed their masks before entering the venue.

It is said that the North Korean authorities judged that participants wearing masks at the largest political event, the party congress, would damage the national prestige and amplify public anxiety about infectious diseases.

Also, since the party congress will be made into a documentary film for permanent preservation, the appearance of mask-wearing could be a 'blemish.'

There is also an explanation that wearing a mask and covering one's face in front of the 'Supreme Dignity (Kim Jong-un)' is considered 'impiety,' which is why the no-mask policy was implemented.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.