Kim Jong-un, "Inadequate Epidemic Response and Exposure of Weaknesses" North Korea Reports 230,000 Fever Cases (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, held a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party and reprimanded the inadequate national crisis response from the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, while ordering the reinforcement of the health quarantine system.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Korean Central News Agency reported on the 18th that "the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on May 17 at the headquarters building of the Party Central Committee."

General Secretary Kim stated, "From the early stages of the unprecedented quarantine ordeal since the founding of the country, the immature national crisis response capability, the passive attitude, laxity, and inactivity of the national leadership cadres exposed the weaknesses and gaps in our work," and added, "This resulted in increasing the complexity and hardship of the early stage of the quarantine battle, where time is life," reprimanding the situation.

He then instructed to strengthen control, saying, "All units and all officials (cadres) must recognize the gravity of the situation and not allow lack of awareness, insufficient preparation, arbitrary interpretation, and arbitrary actions in overcoming it."

He emphasized, "While focusing on preventing the spread and treatment battle of the malignant infectious disease, actively promote material and technical preparations in various ways to respond to prospective threats and challenges," and "Eliminate recently revealed defects, shortcomings, and vulnerable links, and reinforce the health quarantine system and framework."

North Korea showed confidence that it can respond to the current COVID-19 quarantine crisis on its own.

The news agency reported that the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau "discussed the issue of continuously seizing the momentum on the overall quarantine front by constantly and flexibly adjusting the national quarantine policy according to the sustained improvement trend and changing quarantine situation like today."

At the meeting, including General Secretary Kim, all attendees conducted the meeting without wearing masks, demonstrating confidence in overcoming the crisis.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters of North Korea announced that from 6 p.m. on the 16th to 6 p.m. on the 17th, approximately 232,880 new fever cases occurred nationwide, about 205,630 people recovered, and 6 people died.

The total number of nationwide fever cases from the end of April to 6 p.m. the previous day is approximately 1,715,950, of which about 1,024,720 have recovered and 691,170 are receiving treatment. The total number of deaths so far is 62.