"Kim Jong-un Family Received Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine"

US North Korea Expert Claims
Many Senior Leaders Also Vaccinated
Questions Raised on Response Measures for Side Effects

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] It has been claimed that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, recently received a COVID-19 vaccine from China.

On the 30th (local time), Harry Kazianis, Korea director at the U.S. think tank Center for the National Interest, cited two anonymous Japanese intelligence officials in a contribution to the security-related site '1945', stating that Kim Jong-un and many members of the Kim family and North Korean leadership have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines provided by the Chinese government within the past 2 to 3 weeks.

Kazianis said he was unable to confirm which company manufactured the vaccines provided to the North Korean leadership.

He quoted Dr. Peter J. Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine, saying that China has at least 3 to 4 different vaccines, including those developed by Sinovac and CanSino Biologics.

Dr. Hotez said, "It is not surprising that China could become the world's largest vaccine producer and that it is providing vaccines to North Korea."

Kazianis pointed out that since China’s vaccines have not released Phase 3 clinical trial data, questions remain about their efficacy and safety. He added that experts have not provided clear answers on what might happen if Kim Jong-un and others received ineffective vaccines or whether they could be revaccinated with different vaccines.

Kazianis assessed that China might provide vaccines for the entire North Korean population. He predicted that China would seek to supply vaccines out of concern for potential political instability in North Korea due to COVID-19 as well as the possibility of a large influx of refugees.