Is North Korea a COVID-Free Zone? WHO Says "No Reported Cases from Bukhan"

World Health Organization "No Reported Infection Cases"
North Korea Emphasizes "Absolutely No Invasion Allowed in Our Country" and No Occurrence

Overseas Koreans who returned on the government's third chartered flight from Wuhan, China, the origin of the COVID-19 infection, are boarding buses to move to quarantine facilities on the morning of the 12th at Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that it has not received any reports of confirmed COVID-19 cases from North Korean authorities, according to a report by the Voice of America (VOA) on the 12th.

The WHO Pyongyang office told VOA, "WHO has not received any reports from the North Korean Ministry of Public Health regarding COVID-19 infections within North Korea," adding, "WHO cooperates with all member states, including North Korea, in responding to new viruses."

The Pyongyang office also explained, "At the request of the North Korean Ministry of Public Health, WHO is providing personal protective equipment for healthcare workers such as experimental reagents, goggles, gloves, masks, and gowns."

Additionally, it stated that WHO is offering guidelines and technical support related to early diagnosis of COVID-19, monitoring, isolation, and treatment.

This is reportedly the first time WHO has commented on the presence or absence of confirmed COVID-19 cases within North Korea.

However, since WHO’s official case counts rely almost entirely on voluntary reporting by each member state, the situation inside North Korea may differ.

On the same day, North Korea reiterated its claim that COVID-19 has not broken out within its borders.

The external propaganda outlet Tongil-ui Meori published an article titled "Establishing the Material Foundation for Epidemic Prevention," stating, "We are running and running today as well to ensure that the novel coronavirus, which is plunging the world into anxiety and fear, absolutely does not invade our country," asserting that the virus has not yet entered.

In the past, North Korea officially acknowledged outbreaks within its territory only during the H1N1 influenza pandemic, despite global outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Meanwhile, it has been reported that North Korea has made mask-wearing mandatory at Pyongyang Station to prevent COVID-19. Pyongyang Station is the central hub for all rail traffic in North Korea, equivalent to Seoul Station in South Korea.

Since a significantly higher proportion of residents use railways rather than private cars, quarantine measures at Pyongyang Station, which has the highest foot traffic, appear to have been strengthened.

On this day, North Korean media also released photos for the first time showing a top-level official wearing a mask while inspecting quarantine sites.

The Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun published photos of Premier Kim Jae-ryong presiding over a meeting without removing his mask indoors, stating that he "inspected the emergency epidemic prevention headquarters’ work in the central government, South Pyongan Province, North Hwanghae Province, and Nampo City on site."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.