Choson Sinbo: "Reasonable Judgment That COVID-19 Entered North Korea via Leaflets"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Choson Sinbo, the official publication of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan representing North Korea's stance, claimed that "contact infection" is being identified as the transmission route of COVID-19.

Kim Ji-young, editor-in-chief of Choson Sinbo, stated in an article titled "The Source of Infection is Unusual Items Crossing the Military Demarcation Line" on the 24th, "According to a document jointly released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), COVID-19 can survive up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, and 24 hours on cardboard, referred to as 'tanboru' (the Japanese term for corrugated cardboard)."

She added that the National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Japan considers contact infection as a cause of infection in addition to inhalation of droplets and aerosols, saying, "Cases of contact infection continue to be reported in Japan as well."

Kim said, "Since some time ago, so-called defector groups in the South have been pushing items such as leaflets and booklets into the North Korean region. It does not take long for these to cross the Military Demarcation Line," adding, "Therefore, considering unusual items as carriers of malicious viruses is a very reasonable judgment."

North Korea announced through state media on the 1st of last month that the initial outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in Ip'o-ri, Geumgang County, Gangwon Province, adjacent to the South, and that the first infected individuals were a soldier and a child who came into contact with "unusual items," referring to leaflets sent to the North.

Kim stated, "The problem is that items including leaflets may continue to be sent from south of the Military Demarcation Line," and added, "Defector groups are still trying to push filthy items, and the current South Korean administration is showing signs of attempting to repeal the 'Law Prohibiting the Distribution of Leaflets to the North,' which was enacted under the previous administration."

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