7th Central Committee 14th Politburo Enlarged Meeting
Emphasis on COVID-19 Prevention Measures... No Mention of Inter-Korean Relations
On the 2nd, North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un held the 14th Enlarged Meeting of the 7th Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party to discuss the national emergency epidemic prevention measures against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 3rd. The report conveying the results of the meeting made no mention of inter-Korean relations.
The agency stated that Chairman Kim pointed out at the meeting that "recently, in neighboring countries and adjacent regions, the trend of reinfection and re-spread of the malignant infectious disease continues, and the risk remains uncertain to be resolved, so the epidemic prevention front line must remain fully alert and vigilant without any complacency or negligence, re-examining and strictly implementing epidemic prevention work."
It added that "Chairman Kim severely criticized the gradually widespread complacency, neglect, chronic phenomena, and violations of emergency epidemic prevention regulations as the emergency epidemic prevention work becomes prolonged, and repeatedly warned that premature relaxation of epidemic prevention measures would cause an unimaginable and irreparable fatal crisis," urging the strengthening of emergency epidemic prevention.
While praising the current epidemic prevention situation, Chairman Kim emphasized not to lower vigilance. He said, "The fact that we are thoroughly defending against the intrusion of the malignant virus into the territory and maintaining a stable epidemic prevention posture amid the global health crisis is a proud achievement won by the far-sighted leadership of the Party Central Committee and the highly conscious unity of the entire people moving as one in accordance with the Party Central Committee's orders and instructions," and added, "We must cherish these epidemic prevention achievements, continuously consolidate them, and guarantee and secure the safety of the state and the well-being of the people in every possible way," the agency reported.
The meeting included a report and discussion on the state of national emergency epidemic prevention work over the past six months due to COVID-19, and measures for the construction of the Pyongyang General Hospital and medical service support were also considered.
The agency reported that Chairman Kim "expressed satisfaction with the fact that the builders of the Pyongyang General Hospital are boldly overcoming difficult and unfavorable conditions with extraordinary spirit and devoted efforts, and that the construction work is being steadily pushed forward according to the schedule."
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