North Korea Faces Successive COVID-19 Outbreaks... Kim Jong Un Calls It "The Greatest Turmoil Since the Founding of the Nation"

21 Deaths from COVID-19 Yesterday
Over 524,400 Cumulative Fever Cases... 27 Deaths

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] North Korea's COVID-19 spread continues steadily. Chairman Kim Jong-un emphasized the seriousness of the situation, calling it "the greatest upheaval since the founding of the nation," while suggesting overcoming it through strong control policies similar to those of China.

According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 14th, at a Politburo consultation presided over by Chairman Kim Jong-un, the North Korean State Emergency Anti-epidemic Command reported that 174,400 new febrile patients (patients with fever) occurred the previous day due to COVID-19, and 21 people died. Since the end of last month until the previous day, the total number of febrile patients in North Korea reached approximately 524,400, with a cumulative death toll of 27. Among the febrile patients, about 243,630 have recovered, and 280,810 are still under treatment.

At the meeting, measures to suppress and manage the nationwide expanding COVID-19 situation in North Korea were discussed. Chairman Kim emphasized, "The spread of this malignant infectious disease can be called the greatest upheaval since the founding of the nation," and stressed that if strong organizational power and control are maintained and the anti-epidemic struggle is strengthened, the crisis can be overcome. This statement is analyzed as revealing a stance to respond to COVID-19 independently rather than receiving external assistance for the time being. It is highly likely that cooperation related to COVID-19 proposed by President Yoon Suk-yeol will also be declined.

Chairman Kim said, "The current situation is not an uncontrollable spread between regions but a transmission situation within locked-down areas and corresponding units," and urged having confidence that it can be overcome in the shortest possible time. He also stated, "The health crisis we face is also due to the incompetence, irresponsibility, and failure of party organizations in the anti-epidemic work," and ordered party organization officials to "deeply enter among the masses."

Furthermore, Chairman Kim said, "It is also important to study the anti-epidemic policies and successful experiences of other advanced countries," and conveyed, "Actively learn from the advanced and rich anti-epidemic achievements and experiences of the Chinese Party and people." This is interpreted as meaning to adopt and implement anti-epidemic policies modeled on China's current 'zero COVID' approach, which continues strong lockdowns.