North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un declared victory in the battle againstCOVID-19 and its maximum State media KCNA announced on Thursday the epidemic prevention measures imposed in May.
North Korea has not disclosed the number of confirmed virus cases, but international aid agencies have said testing capacity is limited since July 29. No new suspected cases have been reported.
Kim Jong-un said North Korea's official death toll of 74 people was an "unprecedented miracle" compared to other countries, KCNA reported.
READ MORE: North Korea says COVID-19 outbreak started with "alien stuff" near southern border.
Experts say North Korea's figures are unlikely to tell the whole story.
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Victory was declared despite no known vaccine program being deployed. Instead, it says the country is relying on lockdowns, homegrown treatments, and what Kim called a "favorable Korean-style socialist system."
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He ordered the lifting of maximum pandemic measures, but North Korea was "strong as iron." We must maintain barriers and quarantine systems," he said. Intensify epidemic prevention activities until the global health crisis is over. ''
Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, said the North Korean leader himself was suffering from a fever, and she blamed leaflets from South Korea for sparking the outbreak, she reported to KCNA.
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates)
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