"Suspected Defector Crossing North, Not Listed as Confirmed or Contact Case" (Update)

A North Korean defector in his 20s, Kim Mo (24), who is presumed to have recently defected to North Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The quarantine authorities recently stated that the North Korean defector suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who defected to South Korea has never been classified as a confirmed case or contact within the country.

On the 27th, Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) quarantine team, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex, "The individual mentioned in the media yesterday is not registered as a confirmed case in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's electronic system, nor are they listed in the contact management registry."

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported the previous day, "An emergency incident occurred on the 19th when a defector suspected of being infected with a malignant virus illegally crossed the Military Demarcation Line after three years and returned to Kaesong City."

Yoon explained, "Our data does not confirm whether the defector is a suspected COVID-19 patient." He added, "Two people who were thought to have had frequent contact with this individual were tested yesterday, and the results came back negative."

According to military authorities and the Gimpo Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, the defector is identified as Kim (24), residing in Gimpo. It is known that Kim was investigated by the police last month on suspicion of sexually assaulting an acquaintance at his home.

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