Covid-19 outbreak in North Korea, the world seeks humanitarian support

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on May 15 that the country had recorded 15 more deaths and 296,180 people with fever symptoms. These were the numbers counted from the evening of May 13 to the evening of May 14; bringing the total number of deaths to 42 and the total number of people with fever symptoms since late April to more than 800,000. Of these, more than half have recovered and nearly 325,000 are still receiving treatment.

KCNA added,Chosenhas taken “emergency measures” to limit the spread of the virus. And the increase in deaths is due to “careless use of drugs due to lack of knowledge and understanding of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its treatment.”

North Korea has locked down all provinces and cities across the country since May 12 to prevent the spread of the virus after leader Kim Jong-un chaired a Politburo meeting and confirmed that the spread of Covid-19 is causing “great turmoil” since the country’s founding. North Korea is focusing on training propaganda staff nationwide on the disease and measures to prevent and combat it, while also making efforts to provide emergency treatment drugs to medical facilities to treat patients.

Experts are concerned that the number of Covid-19 cases in North Korea could increase in the coming time; they are concerned that North Korea's current testing capacity, as well as the health system, will face overload.

Faced with the outbreak in North Korea, the world is urgently seeking humanitarian aid for the country, especially medical equipment, vaccines and treatment drugs. The United Nations, South Korea, China and Russia have made the first offers of support.

Most recently, in a phone call on May 14, new South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed to maintain consultations with each other, as well as with international partners, to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea. The exchange took place shortly after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol wanted to exchange information about the epidemic situation with North Korea, and also offered to send Covid-19 vaccines to Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also confirmed that he is in contact with North Korea to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in the country amid the complicated developments of the epidemic; at the same time, he declared his readiness to support North Korea if requested.

“China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors. We are deeply concerned about the Covid-19 situation in the DPRK, and we also believe that under the leadership of the DPRK government and leadership, the DPRK people will be able to defeat the pandemic. China is willing to strengthen cooperation in fighting the pandemic; and provide support and assistance according to the needs of the DPRK,” said Zhao Lijian.

The United Nations is urging North Korea to allow its staff to enter the country to assess the situation and provide necessary assistance./.