Ministry of Unification: "North Korea Faces Difficulties Due to COVID-19... Cross-Border Health Cooperation Needed"

"North Korea is facing difficulties like other countries"
"Inter-Korean cooperation needed to address non-traditional security threats"
Regarding North Korea's Kim Yo-jong's rise as 'second-in-command', "Evaluation is inappropriate"

President Moon Jae-in (center), U.S. President Donald Trump (right), and Chairman Kim Jong-un talking during the inter-Korean-U.S. meeting at Panmunjom held in June last year.

On the 12th, North Korea held the Supreme People's Assembly and discussed national measures to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification reiterated on the 13th the position that 'humanitarian cooperation and health cooperation with North Korea are necessary.'

Yeo Sang-gi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office Building that "It seems to be true that North Korea, like many other countries facing economic difficulties due to COVID-19, is also facing hardships," and added, "In this regard, the government basically holds the position that humanitarian cooperation and health cooperation with North Korea are necessary."

The spokesperson emphasized, "Especially to cope with non-traditional security threats such as the current COVID-19 situation, transboundary cooperation is necessary," and stated, "The government's basic stance is openness, solidarity, and cooperation." He explained, "Based on these principles, the government is also cooperating with the international community, and when pursuing inter-Korean quarantine measures in the future, decisions will be made from this standpoint."

The Supreme People's Assembly was originally scheduled to be held on the 10th but was postponed by two days without a specific reason and convened on the 12th. Regarding this, the spokesperson said, "The North has not disclosed specific reasons," but added, "It is presumed to have been adjusted considering internal political schedules."

North Korea held the 3rd session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly on the 12th at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang. Photo by Rodong Sinmun on the front page of the 13th showing the attendees at the presidium.

Regarding the absence of Chairman Kim at the meeting, he explained, "Looking at past Supreme People's Assembly cases, Chairman Kim has not attended every time," and said that his absence is not unusual. The spokesperson added, "It is also necessary to note that since 2019, Chairman Kim has not held a delegate position." Only delegates attend the Supreme People's Assembly.

Regarding analyses that Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers' Party and Kim's younger sister, has reestablished herself as a candidate member of the Party Political Bureau through this meeting, thus positioning herself as the de facto 'second-in-command' from being 'Kim Jong-un's spokesperson,' the Ministry of Unification remained reserved.

The spokesperson said, "We have confirmed through reports that First Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong has returned as a candidate member," but added, "It is not appropriate for the government to publicly evaluate the significance of her return."

Regarding internal developments in North Korea ahead of the 'Day of the Sun' on the 15th, which is the birthday of President Kim Il-sung, the government stated that it will keep a close watch.

The spokesperson said, "Regarding the Day of the Sun, North Korean media have reported achievements, but there have been no reports yet on specific preparations for events," and added, "We will continue to observe."

Meanwhile, according to North Korea's state media, the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea held the 3rd session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on the 12th. At this meeting, the national budget for this year was approved, with the health sector budget growth rate recording 7.4%, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the previous year (5.8%).

Earlier, on the 11th, at a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting presided over by North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, national measures such as adjusting the national plan in response to the COVID-19 situation and issues regarding the '2019 national budget execution status and the 2020 national budget' were discussed intensively. These discussions were directly reflected in the Supreme People's Assembly the following day.

North Korea has consistently claimed that there are 'no COVID-19 infections,' but the internal situation appears serious.

The news agency pointed out in its report on the Political Bureau meeting on the 12th that "the viral epidemic that occurred at the end of last year has rapidly spread worldwide, turning into a global catastrophe crossing borders and continents."

It acknowledged the difficult reality, stating, "The risk of viral infection cannot be resolved in a short period," and "Such an environment can become a condition that creates certain obstacles to our struggle and progress."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

With the spread of COVID-19 causing the suspension of Chinese tourism to North Korea, tourism projects such as the Yangdok Hot Springs Tourist Area and Masikryong Ski Resort, which Chairman Kim ambitiously promoted, are also in a state of stagnation.

Moreover, when COVID-19 spread, North Korea not only closed its border with China in January but also implemented lockdown policies that blocked the entry and exit of foreigners from major trading partner countries such as Russia.

According to export-import data from the International Trade Centre (ITC), North Korea's imports from Russia in January amounted to $2.92 million, a decrease of 57% and 30% compared to $6.84 million in January last year and $4.22 million in December last year, respectively.

Also, according to China's General Administration of Customs, the value of goods imported from North Korea by China in January and February was $10.7 million, a 71.9% decrease compared to the same period last year.

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