North Korea's COVID-19 Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics Absent: "Urgent International Support Needed"

North Korea Counts 'Fever Cases' but Omicron Shows Symptoms Beyond Fever
Lockdown Measures Ineffective... Need for Treatments and Diagnostic Kits

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] North Korea’s first acknowledgment of a COVID-19 outbreak is analyzed to be due to the large scale of the epidemic and the judgment that it would be difficult to overcome it in a short period with its own quarantine and medical system. Domestic quarantine experts pointed out that since North Korea lacks vaccines, diagnostic tests, and treatments, the damage is expected to be enormous, and it is necessary to actively receive support from international organizations.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 13th, an unknown fever has been spreading in North Korea since the end of last month, with 18,000 people developing fever symptoms daily and a cumulative total of about 350,000 fever patients. So far, there have been six deaths, including confirmed cases of BA.2, known as stealth Omicron. North Korea had previously claimed there were no internal COVID-19 patients and refused vaccine support from international organizations.

Currently, North Korea is in a poor situation not only in terms of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments but also in medical infrastructure itself. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies explained, "North Korea has not administered COVID-19 vaccinations, nor does it have negative pressure wards for isolation treatment after infection," adding, "There are no hospitals capable of managing severe patients, so the healthcare system is very poor."

North Korea announced it would block infection spread through nationwide lockdowns of provinces, cities, and counties, but domestic experts pointed out that this would be ‘ineffective.’ Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Gachon University College of Medicine’s Department of Preventive Medicine said, "Omicron cannot be stopped by lockdowns," and added, "China, which is implementing lockdowns, has a high vaccination rate with its domestic vaccines, yet new cases continue to emerge, and North Korea is not even at that level of vaccination." Professor Jung further stated, "The fatality rate of the Omicron variant domestically is maintained at this level because of vaccines, treatments, and critical care systems, but without any of these, it is only slightly lower than the Delta variant," and added, "In such a state, Omicron is a very deadly infectious disease."

There is also an opinion that COVID-19 has likely spread within North Korean communities. Professor Baek Soon-young, emeritus professor at the Catholic University College of Medicine, pointed out, "North Korea calls them ‘fever patients,’ but Omicron symptoms include more sore throat and fatigue than fever, and there are asymptomatic cases, so if these are combined, it has already spread widely." Professor Chun Eun-mi of Ewha Mokdong Hospital’s Department of Respiratory Medicine diagnosed, "North Korea is more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection due to nutritional issues," and added, "There is also concern about large-scale infections in the military and detention camps."

Experts commonly agree that to reduce the scale of damage, it is necessary to receive maximum support for COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic kits from other countries or international organizations in the future. Professor Baek emphasized, "If patients cannot be hospitalized in North Korea’s environment, severe cases and deaths will increase, causing greater damage," and stressed, "It is necessary to first receive treatments such as Paxlovid rather than vaccines to reduce damage and secure natural immunity for a soft landing." Professor Chun said, "While the introduction of treatments is important, since there is a global shortage of stock, there is an option to receive support for diagnostic kits and vaccines."