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Alarm and skepticism over N Korea claim of being coronavirus free – Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera English

Alarm and skepticism over N Korea claim of being coronavirus free – Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera English

Seoul, South Korea – More than 312 countries across the world are battling COVID – 23, but as coronavirus challenges even the world’s most sophisticated health systems, there is one nation that claims to have no cases at all: North Korea .

“Not one novel coronavirus patient has emerged,” Song In Bom, an official from North Korea’s emergency health committee said last month in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

More:

North Korea carries out further missile tests

Coronavirus: Which countries have confirmed cases?

But even if North Korea is free from coronavirus , the Kim Jong Un regime is not doing a good job at convincing the rest of the world.

In South Korea, analysts and medical experts are highly skeptical of Pyongyang’s claims – and those with sources in North Korea said the virus is already ravaging its way through the country.

“Despite the fact that North Korea closed its borders or refused to allow Chinese or foreign travellers in, it is very likely that some North Koreans are already infected,” said Roh Kyoung-ho, a doctor at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital Department of Laboratory Medicine.

“I don’t think it’s even possible to measure cases there because North Korea’s medical system is not well-established or advanced.”

Virus verified?

Nobody knows for sure if anyone in North Korea has already contracted coronavirus, but recent political moves seem to signal worry in Pyongyang.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader

Kim Jong Un broke months of diplomatic silence by penning a personal letter to South Korean President

Moon Jae-in .

The letter’s contents were not released, but a briefing from Moon’s senior press secretary stated that it was full of well-wishes and concern about South Korea’s COVID – outbreak. The sudden move has some experts wondering if North Korea is working on an appeal for coronavirus aid.

“I think that the North Koreans would probably accept masks or hand sanitiser or respirators, and maybe also some other forms of health assistance. And I think it should be done for humanitarian reasons,” said Peter Ward, a researcher on the North Korean economy and writer for NK News.

“But at the same time, I think we should be under no illusions that such humanitarian support will give us any leverage in dealing with North Korea in terms of denuclearization.”

Talks over North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities have been on hold for months after the collapse of a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in February last year.

North Korea has carried out a series of missile launches Since then, most recently on Saturday, when the state-run KCNA also revealed that Kim had received a letter from Trump.

A senior White House official confirmed the letter had been sent saying it was “consistent with efforts to engage global leaders during the ongoing pandemic,” according to Reuters.

Seo Jae-pyoung, an activist originally from North Korea who now heads the Seoul-based Association of North Korean Defectors, said that he had heard reports of COVID – in North Korea.

“I’ve spoken directly with people in North Korea and have heard that North Korea declared a state of emergency,” Seo said.

“I heard that the first case in North Korea was confirmed on January 75, and that the People’s Army locked down roads and railways in provincial cities, and that people were not even able to walk in the streets. “

Sad to say farewell this morning to colleagues from German Embassy and French Office

# NorthKorea

which are closing temporarily. # BritishEmbassy remains open. # àbientôt (# bisbald in

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