Continuous 'Droplet Transmission' by Kim Jong-un with No Mask and Chain Smoking...

Kim Jong-un Alone Without Mask at Politburo Meeting... Also Gave Speech Holding Cigarette Pack
North Korea Self-Assesses "COVID-19 Spread Has Slowed"
WHO Warns "Higher Chance of New Variant Emerging" in North Korea's Current COVID Situation

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, caught smoking during a meeting. Photo by Chosun Central TV

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, was captured continuously smoking indoors and speaking during a meeting, spreading droplets.

According to North Korea's Korean Central Television, Chairman Kim held a Politburo consultative meeting at the Workers' Party Central Committee headquarters on the 12th.

At the meeting attended by the Politburo Standing Committee and other top North Korean officials, Kim was the only one not wearing a mask.

Kim appeared without a mask from the moment he entered the meeting and did not wear one at all during the session.

Only Kim's speech was visible during the meeting; other officials' remarks were not shown on screen.

Moreover, he continuously smoked indoors. According to the footage, Kim was always holding a cigarette, and smoke was constantly rising. Scenes of him holding a cigarette pack while speaking were also captured.

Jung Eun-kyung, former Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, defined smoking itself as a risky act that makes it difficult to block droplet transmission in June 2020. At that time, she urged people not to smoke to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, participating in a meeting without wearing a mask. Photo by Korean Central TV capture

This behavior of Chairman Kim is interpreted as a staged display to showcase the calming trend of COVID-19.

Kim was first seen wearing a mask at the 8th Political Bureau meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party.

He was also confirmed to be wearing a mask when visiting a pharmacy by the Taedong River on the 15th, but at this recent meeting held after the announcement that the COVID-19 spread had subsided, he did not wear a mask at all.

Earlier, the North Korean Workers' Party Politburo evaluated on the 21st that "the nationwide transmission situation is gradually being suppressed, the number of recovered patients is increasing daily, and the number of deaths is significantly decreasing, maintaining stability in overall regions."

Chairman Kim also stated that "the national emergency epidemic prevention work is showing positive trends."

However, considering the poor medical system and the shortage of treatment drugs and vaccines, with North Korea still relying on folk remedies, it seems premature to be reassured.

Furthermore, the WHO has expressed concerns about the current COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea, warning that "the probability of new variants emerging may increase."