North Korean citizens spotted with mysterious objects on their face masks

Images from North Korea state media show citizens in the country wearing face masks with mysterious objects attached to them. Here's what we know.

Mysterious objects on face masks

While most of the world has relaxed Covid-19 restrictions, North Koreans appear to be wearing masks more and more. Recently, they have also begun attaching mysterious accessories to their masks, as reported by NK News after analysing state media.

North Korean citizens are increasingly being seen with large colourful stickers and/or clips stuck to their masks. The inch-long, bulbous, and oval-shaped accessories are either stuck to the front of masks or hang on clips attached to the mask’s straps. The majority are light blue in colour, however, they also appear to come in white, black, pink, green, and yellow.

The phenomenon started mid last month (January 2023) in Pyongyang right before a five-day lockdown in the city because of what an official notice described as a 'rising' illness. From 16 February, citizens of all ages in other cities beyond the capital also started to appear on state TV with the accessories, according to NK News. It is not clear what their purpose or function may be.

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Proof of vaccination or Covid-19 status?

Lots of countries during the pandemic required people to show proof of vaccination via smartphone apps and QR codes to access certain public spaces.

North Korea expert Martin Weiser has told NK News before that the accessories could be part of similar access restrictions. It's possible they contain small chips with readable health or screening status data, perhaps for people who don't have smartphones.

The rising popularity of the accessories could mean that North Koreans are being increasingly vaccinated, after Kim Jong-un suggested that a vaccination campaign would start last autumn (2022). However, state media has not yet reported the beginning of such a campaign.

It’s also feasible that the accessories communicate other Covid-related statuses, such as whether a person has passed a particular type of screening. If so, their prevalence in more cities could indicate new restrictions or the spread of illness outside Pyongyang.

It comes as South Korea dropped their mandate on wearing masks indoors only on 30 January, three years after the country announced its first outbreak of Covid-19. South Koreans no longer have to wear masks in most indoor public places, however they are still required on public transport and in medical facilities. Despite this, South Koreans' 'collective responsibility around health' means many continue to wear them.

Source:

NK News: 'More North Koreans sticking mysterious objects on face masks, state media shows'

Reuters: 'South Korea drops indoor anti-COVID mask mandate, infection fears linger'

NHK: 'S.Korea Drops Indoor Mask Mandate'