North Korea Has No Confirmed Coronavirus Cases, But Asked for Aid

North Korea Has No Confirmed Coronavirus Cases, But Asked for Aid

North Korea is still one of the countries that have no reported cases of coronavirus, as AlJazeera reported in an article, in spite of triggering skepticism over the world as global infections slowly head towards one million.

The country is incredibly isolated anyway, but it shut down its borders as soon as the outbreak erupted in China, and imposed severe measures in January immediately after the news of the virus became public.

Pak Myong Su, director of North Korea’s Central Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters, stated that the country’s efforts to keep safe have been successful. “Not one single person has been infected with the novel coronavirus in our country so far,” he said.

“We have carried out pre-emptive and scientific measures such as inspections and quarantine for all personnel entering our country and thoroughly disinfecting all goods, as well as closing borders and blocking sea and air lanes,” he added.

The situation of coronavirus in North Korea

Almost every other country has confirmed coronavirus cases, with the World Health Organization (WHO) stating on Wednesday that the number of reported infections worldwide approach one million. After China, South Korea was the most severely hit.

Some specialists have claimed that North Korea is especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 because of its flawed medical system and international sanctions, which has led to food shortages in the country. The United Nations believe that 10.3 million people, which is about half the country’s population, are in need, and approximately 45 percent of North Koreans are undernourished.

In March, Kim Jong-Un wrote a personal letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-In after months of diplomatic silence. This made people say that the country is ‘going through something’ and caused them questioning whether North Korea was preparing for coronavirus aid.

In February, Russia’s foreign ministry has also stated that it sent to Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital city, 1,500 coronavirus diagnostic test kits at its request “due to the persisting risk of the new COVID-19.”

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