Jack Kim, Heekyong Yang

SEOUL (Reuters). -North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un declared Saturday that COVID-19 spread had landed his country in “great turmoil”. He called for an intense battle to defeat the disease, which has been responsible for 21 deaths daily among fever-stricken people.

North Korea has declared a COVID-related outbreak for the first times this week. This led to a lockdown across the country. However, there were no signs of any rigorous testing or campaign to treat the disease in North Korea’s primitive healthcare system.

Kim stated that the spread of the malignant virus is a major crisis for the country, as reported by state news agency KCNA.

We will be able to overcome the crisis if our focus is not lost in the execution of epidemic policies and strong organisation power, control and unity based on one-minded unity between the party’s people and ourselves.

These numbers are likely to represent just a fraction, considering North Korea’s limited testing capabilities. Experts believe that this could result in thousands of deaths from one of the two remaining countries with no vaccination program.

This could lead to a worsening food crisis. The lockdown will also hinder anti-drought efforts as well as the mobilisation of labour.

The Workers Party Meeting heard that approximately 280,810 people were being treated for fevers and 27 people died since a reported outbreak of a fever unidentified in the late April.

However, the state media didn’t say whether these deaths were caused by COVID. Friday’s KCNA report confirmed one death from Omicron variant.

According to KCNA, 524.440 individuals have displayed symptoms of fever since late April. Friday saw 174.440 additional cases. Approximately 243.630 patients have been treated, but KCNA does not know how many others have been examined or confirmed that they have COVID.

North Korea tests about 1400 people per week. According to Kee, a Harvard Medical School researcher who worked on health projects in North Korea, it is not enough to assess the symptoms of the many thousands.

Learn from China’s Success

Kim stated that the crisis was caused by incompetence, irresponsibility and party organizations. However, transmission could not be uncontrolled and the country should have faith in its ability to resolve the crisis within the shortest time possible.

A report by epidemic control officers was also presented to the meeting. They stated that most human deaths were due to negligence, including overdoses resulting from drug intoxication.

Kim said that he would donate the medical equipment of his family to families in need, “in his resolve to share the destiny with people”.

Kim said, “It is important to actively learn from advanced and rich antiepidemic achievements and experience already accumulated by the Chinese party or people in fighting against malicious epidemic,” Kim was quoted saying.

While Russia and China are both willing to help, Pyongyang is not openly seeking assistance.

Kim’s comments will encourage health officials to examine China’s zero COVID policy closer and perhaps reach out to Chinese authorities. Cheong Seong Chang, head of Sejong Institute’s North Korea studies, stated that Kim’s remarks would prompt them to investigate the matter further.

He wrote that the North could ask China to test their COVID-19 equipment and treatment by natural extension.

Many people around the globe are trying to live without COVID. However, China has a zero-COVID policy that places hundreds of millions of citizens in cities with tight mobility restrictions.

According to KCNA North Korea, party workers, youth and officials continue to be mobilized to work for drought prevention and to plant rice in different areas of the country.

North Korea did not report on possible sources of the epidemic. Seoul-based site that relays information from North Korea claims Friday that some Pyongyang students tested positive following an event in May. Kim was present at the event.

They had family members who were involved in China trade, and they may have transmitted the virus to their homes in Pyongyang.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the authenticity of this report.

North Korea’s frontier with China was opened for trade in January. But, in April China suspended freight services between Dandong (on its side) and North Korea’s Sinuiju because of COVID in China.