Kim Jong-Un “said we have completely prevented the virus from entering”
Seoul, South Korea:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un hailed what he described as his country’s “resounding success” in the fight against the new coronavirus, according to the official news agency KCNA Friday.
Hermetic Totalitarian Head of State spoke Thursday at a meeting of the Workers’ Party political bureau to discuss the impact of the virus, six months after North Korea’s border closures and isolation thousands of people.
KCNA reported that after reviewing his efforts, Kim “said that we have completely prevented the spread of the malignant virus” and “maintained a stable epidemic situation despite the global health crisis”.
The reclusive leader praised “the brilliant successes obtained by the clear-sighted leadership of the Central Party Committee and the high sense of voluntary spirit shown by all those who are one at the behest of the Central Party Committee”, continued KCNA.
But he also stressed the need to “maintain a maximum alert”, in particular in the light of new outbreaks in “neighboring countries”.
“He has repeatedly warned that hasty relief from anti-epidemic measures would lead to an unimaginable and irremediable crisis,” said KCNA.
Pyongyang has not confirmed a single case of the deadly disease that swept the world after its first appearance in neighboring China, but has imposed strict rules, including the closure of its borders and schools, and the isolation of thousands of people.
Analysts say the North is unlikely to have avoided the virus, and that its dilapidated health system may be struggling to cope with a major epidemic.
Last month, a UN human rights expert warned that food insecurity is worsening and that some people are “starving to death” due to North Korea’s attempts to ward off any epidemic, in particular. especially the closing of borders.
Before the coronavirus crisis, over 40% of people in North Korea were already considered food insecure, and many were malnourished.
Affecting almost every country on earth, COVID-19 has infected at least 10.7 million people and killed 516,000, as it disrupts ordinary and economic life in unprecedented ways.
It continues to accelerate worldwide, including in the United States.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
