North Korea Reiterates "Zero COVID-19 Cases"... "Thanks to the Party's Wise Leadership"

"No COVID-19 Cases Reported in Our Country"
"Wise Leadership of the Party and Swift, Accurate National Measures"

North Korea is intensifying hygiene promotion activities targeting residents to prevent the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Kim Hyung-hoon, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health, who is working in the Central Emergency Anti-epidemic Command's comprehensive division, urged strict compliance with the extended 30-day quarantine period in an interview with Korean Central Television on the 14th.

As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to strike the world, North Korea reiterated on the 15th that there are no confirmed cases within its borders.

The Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published an article titled "Strengthen and Expand Hygiene and Quarantine Work ? Thoroughly Prevent the Novel Coronavirus Infection" stating, "The fact that no cases of novel coronavirus infection have occurred in our country is due to the wise leadership of the Party, the prompt and accurate measures of the state, and the vigilant mobilization posture of the entire population, leaving no room for the infectious disease to take hold."

North Korea has been declaring that there are no confirmed cases while waging an all-out battle against COVID-19, including closing its borders for quarantine purposes.

Earlier, on the 12th, the external propaganda outlet Tongilui Meori (Echo of Unification) published an article titled "Establishing the Material Foundation for Epidemic Prevention," claiming, "We are running tirelessly today as well to ensure that the novel coronavirus, which has thrown the world into anxiety and fear, absolutely does not invade our country," asserting that the virus has not yet entered.

On the 6th, the Cabinet organ Minju Choson stated in an editorial titled "Raise the Role of Emergency Epidemic Prevention Command Posts at All Levels" that "Although no cases of novel coronavirus infection have occurred in our country..." confirming that there are no confirmed cases in North Korea.

On the same day, Rodong Sinmun also suggested there were no confirmed cases by stating, "We are continuously raising the level of struggle to absolutely prevent the infectious disease from entering our country."

Earlier, on the 2nd, Song In-bum, Director of the Ministry of Public Health, said in an interview with Korean Central Television, "No cases of novel coronavirus infection have occurred," making direct and indirect claims daily.

A photo released on the 14th by Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, shows medical staff at Pyongyang Second People's Hospital holding a meeting indoors while wearing masks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also not received reports of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Korea.

On the 12th, the Voice of America (VOA) reported that WHO had not been informed of any confirmed COVID-19 cases by North Korea’s Ministry of Public Health. The WHO Pyongyang office told VOA the day before, "WHO is cooperating with all member states, including North Korea, in responding to the novel virus."

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

However, some point out that WHO’s official case counts rely almost entirely on voluntary reporting by member states, so the situation inside North Korea may differ.

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

Meanwhile, North Korea continues to devote itself to epidemic prevention activities. The authorities have decided to extend the quarantine period to 30 days to prevent COVID-19 infection.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly urgently adopted a decision on the 12th stating, "To prevent novel coronavirus infection, the quarantine period within the republic will be temporarily extended to 30 days." Accordingly, "all state institutions and sectors, as well as foreigners residing or staying in our country, must unconditionally comply," the agency reported.

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