North Korea: "Border Closure Key to COVID Response... We Have Zero Cases"

Kim Hyung-hoon, Vice Minister of North Korea's Cabinet Ministry of Public Health, States
"Border Closure Until Treatment Method Emerges"
Daycare Centers, Kindergartens, Universities Also Postponed
UN Urges "North Korea to Cooperate with International Community on Health"

The North Korean authorities announced that they will maintain a "border closure" policy until clear diagnostic and treatment methods are developed to block the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide.
Kim Hyung-hoon, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Health of the North Korean Cabinet (equivalent to deputy minister), said in a video interview with Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, on the 27th that the core of the COVID-19 response is "blocking," adding, "Currently, all foreigners are prohibited from entering at border entry points, ports, and airports."

North Korea announced on the 27th that it will maintain its 'border blockade' policy to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) until a treatment is developed.

Kim Hyung-hoon, Vice Minister (Deputy Minister level) of the Ministry of Public Health of the North Korean Cabinet, said in an interview with Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, that the core of the COVID-19 response is 'blocking,' adding, "Currently, all foreigners are prohibited from entering at border entry points, ports, and airports."

He added, "We intend to continue this effort as it is until diagnostic and treatment methods are fully established."

As a preemptive measure during the COVID-19 outbreak phase, North Korea completely suspended international flights, international trains, and ship services entering Pyongyang from abroad starting from the 31st of last month, and has not lifted the border blockade order even after nearly a month.

He stated, "Currently, there are no specific treatments or therapeutic methods established worldwide," and while the country is directing the emergency production of antiviral drugs and accelerating the development of Western medicines, he urged that folk remedies and traditional Korean medicine should also be actively utilized.

He went on to mention past infectious disease cases such as SARS, Ebola, MERS, and measles, saying, "Based on the rich experience gained during the struggle, preparations are being completed to respond urgently even if infections occur."

The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, reported on the 27th that disinfection operations are being carried out on public transportation vehicles to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), showing photos of workers at the Seoseong Station Hygiene and Quarantine Office in action.

Regarding the status of COVID-19 cases in North Korea, the claim that 'there are no cases' was reiterated.

Vice Minister Kim emphasized, "Currently, not a single patient has entered our country," and stressed that intensive quarantine efforts are underway centered on the emergency epidemic prevention command led by responsible cadres from the Party, the state, and the military.

He also reported that quarantine targets have been expanded to include not only entrants who traveled abroad before and after the outbreak of the infectious disease but also their contacts, with emergency diagnoses being conducted based on travel duration and symptoms.

Along with the border blockade, North Korea has launched an all-out campaign to prevent infectious diseases, including postponing school openings. To cope with the spread of COVID-19, the opening of kindergartens and schools nationwide has also been postponed.

On the 27th, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, a radio medium listened to by all residents, mentioned regarding COVID-19 that "educational and quarantine activities for infectious disease prevention are being vigorously carried out from daycare centers and kindergartens to universities," and especially noted that "students' vacations have been extended to prevent the spread of the infection in advance."

Since no specific target areas were mentioned separately, this vacation extension appears to be a nationwide measure. The scheduled school opening date was not disclosed. In North Korea, vacation periods are known to be from January to mid-February for kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools, and about one month in January for universities.

Thomas Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights

Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korea pointed out the vulnerability of North Korea's health care response system and urged the North Korean authorities to actively cooperate with the international community.

Thomas Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, stated in a press release on the day that cooperation between North Korea and the international community is necessary to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19 within North Korea, and said, "Outside North Korea, preparations for response must be made, and internally, the North Korean government must allow unrestricted and full access to health experts and humanitarian workers."

He emphasized that deepening self-isolation out of concern for the infection is not the right answer for North Korea.

The rapporteur pointed out, "Residents living in rural areas of North Korea do not enjoy adequate health conditions such as safe drinking water and sanitation, and more than 43% of the population is malnourished," adding, "Due to limited access to information, North Korean residents may be more vulnerable to COVID-19."

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