6 Deaths Reported Amid North Korea Omicron Spread, Kim Jong-un Points Out "Quarantine Loopholes"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] As COVID-19 rapidly spreads in North Korea, six deaths have also been reported.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, visited the National Emergency Anti-epidemic Command the day before and "after transitioning the national anti-epidemic work to the maximum emergency anti-epidemic system in response to the epidemic crisis, inspected the anti-epidemic situation for one day and understood the nationwide transmission situation."

General Secretary Kim received a report at the site stating, "Since the end of April, a fever of unknown cause has explosively spread nationwide, resulting in about 350,000 people with fever symptoms within a short period, of whom about 162,200 have recovered."

He was also informed that "on May 12 alone, about 18,000 new fever cases occurred nationwide, and currently about 187,800 people are isolated and receiving treatment, with six deaths reported." Among the deceased was one confirmed case of BA.2, known as the 'stealth Omicron.'

In response, General Secretary Kim seriously pointed out that "the fact that the fever spread simultaneously and extensively, centered around the capital area, shows that there are gaps in the anti-epidemic system we had already established."

He emphasized the importance of "all provinces, cities, and counties nationwide locking down their areas while maximizing residents' convenience and implementing isolation measures by business units, production units, and residential units," adding, "It is urgent to proactively lock down regions, isolate those with fever symptoms, and responsibly provide treatment to block transmission spaces."

General Secretary Kim stated, "Overcoming the current health crisis as soon as possible, restoring stability in epidemic prevention, and protecting the health and well-being of our people is the most important and urgent task before our Party," and the news agency reported that he "declared the Party Central Committee's determination, will, and strategic tactics to successfully lead the epidemic prevention battle."

Furthermore, the agency reported that "the officials of the National Emergency Anti-epidemic Command deeply recognize the solemn mission and responsibility entrusted by the Party and the revolution (...) and are expected and confident to completely block and eliminate the source of the malignant infectious disease transmission and open the breakthrough for victory in the anti-epidemic war at the forefront."

Earlier, North Korea officially acknowledged the first confirmed COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began at the end of 2019 during a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting chaired by General Secretary Kim the previous day, declaring the transition of the national anti-epidemic system to the maximum emergency anti-epidemic system.

It appears that General Secretary Kim held the Political Bureau meeting from early dawn the day before and then visited the National Emergency Anti-epidemic Command to assess the COVID-19 spread situation.

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