North Korea Admits First COVID-19 Cases... Kim Jong-un Calls It "Nation's Most Serious Emergency" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea has acknowledged the occurrence of COVID-19 infections for the first time.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported on the 12th that the 8th Political Bureau Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened at the Party Central Committee headquarters due to the occurrence of COVID-19 infections.

The agency stated, "A national-level critical emergency has occurred, causing a breach in our emergency epidemic prevention front that has been firmly maintained for 2 years and 3 months since February 2020."

It continued, "The National Emergency Epidemic Prevention Headquarters and relevant units reviewed the strict genetic sequencing analysis results of samples collected from febrile individuals in a certain organization in the capital on May 8, concluding that it matches the Omicron variant BA.2, which has been rapidly spreading worldwide recently." This is the first time North Korea, which had claimed zero COVID-19 cases, has admitted confirmed infections.

The attendance of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, at the Political Bureau meeting that day revealed the seriousness of the COVID-19 infection situation.

General Secretary Kim instructed, "All cities and counties nationwide must thoroughly lock down their areas and organize work and production activities in a sealed state by business units, production units, and living units to completely block any space for the spread of the malignant virus without gaps."

He added, "Strengthen guard duties on the frontlines, borders, seas, and airspace, and ensure there are no safety gaps in national defense," and "The Party and government have decided to activate measures to mobilize the reserves of medical supplies stockpiled in anticipation of emergencies like the current one."

General Secretary Kim said, "The fundamental purpose of this maximum emergency epidemic prevention system is to stably suppress and manage the spread of the novel coronavirus that has invaded our territory, quickly cure the infected, and eliminate the source of transmission in the shortest possible time."

He emphasized, "The enemy more dangerous than the malignant virus right now is unscientific fear, lack of conviction, and weak will," and "Because we have the high political consciousness and advanced awareness cultivated and strengthened through the prolonged emergency epidemic prevention struggle, we will surely overcome the sudden crises we face and achieve victory in the emergency epidemic prevention work."

Additionally, North Korea plans to convene the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Party in early June to discuss important issues.

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