Ministry of Unification: "North Korea Reports No COVID-19 Cases... Fully Committed to Quarantine Measures"

Monitoring North Korean Infection Cases
USFK Commander: "Zero North Korean Infections? Impossible"

At the entrance of Pyeongcheon District Hospital in Pyongyang, North Korea, a nurse is measuring the temperature of visitors on the 1st to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

As North Korea continues its all-out efforts to combat the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and announced that it will maintain its national emergency quarantine system, the Ministry of Unification stated on the 3rd that it is monitoring the situation regarding whether confirmed cases have occurred in North Korea.

Cho Hye-sil, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the same day, "Based on reports from sources such as the Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun stating that 'the national emergency quarantine system will be maintained until the infectious disease completely disappears worldwide' and that 'the national emergency quarantine efforts are being further intensified,' it is believed that North Korea is making thorough efforts to prevent COVID-19," adding this.

Regarding the occurrence of confirmed cases in North Korea, Deputy Spokesperson Cho said, "North Korean media have announced that no COVID-19 infected patients have occurred, and considering that if confirmed cases occur, they are supposed to report to the World Health Organization (WHO), we are monitoring the situation."

Since COVID-19 struck the world, North Korea has consistently claimed that there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases within the country.

On the 3rd, North Korea announced that about 500 people are currently quarantined to prevent the inflow of COVID-19 and that it plans to maintain the national emergency quarantine system until COVID-19 is eradicated worldwide.

The Korean Central Broadcasting reported that a national emergency quarantine work summary meeting was recently held, stating, "Positive examples demonstrated in the national security and people's security battles were reported and evaluated, and some negative phenomena of chronic negligence in quarantine work were strongly summarized (criticized)."

This was a warning against lax attitudes appearing in some areas, such as not following quarantine guidelines, due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation lasting over two months. The broadcast conveyed, "At the meeting, it was specially emphasized to maintain the national emergency quarantine system until the virus infectious disease completely disappears worldwide and to strengthen infectious disease prevention efforts through nationwide and all-people unified action."

Regarding analyses that prices are rising as North Korea closes its borders in response to COVID-19, the Ministry of Unification stated that it is monitoring the trends.

Deputy Spokesperson Cho said, "We continue to monitor related reports and trends, and the Ministry of Unification is also aware of trends such as rising rice prices and exchange rates," adding, "We will continue to keep an eye on related trends."

Meanwhile, Robert Abrams, commander of the United States Forces Korea, repeatedly refuted North Korea's claim of having no COVID-19 infections on the 2nd (local time), calling it "impossible."

Commander Abrams said in an interview with CNN and Voice of America (VOA) on the same day, "Based on all the information we have seen, I can say that it is an impossible claim."

He added, "We will not disclose the sources or methods of obtaining the information, but it is not true. I cannot say how many (infections in North Korea) there are," and continued, "However, I know that for 30 days in February and early March, North Korean troops were immobilized, and strict measures were taken at the borders and in military formations."

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