North Koreans can easily access narcotics regardless of region, social class, gender, age, or income level. Although North Korean authorities launched a large-scale crackdown after cases of narcotics abuse surged due to worsening medicine shortages following the COVID-19 pandemic, residents continue to use narcotics as substitutes for medicine. In fact, last year in South Pyongan Province, an incident occurred where a patient suffering from high fever and pain died after being given an…
