North Korea leader Kim Jong Un declares victory over COVID-19, taking precautionary measures just three months after acknowledging the outbreak ordered the relaxation of The widely-discussed success will be recognized as a global miracle of health.
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said on Thursday that Kim's sister said her brother had a fever, and that a leaflet flew across the border from South Korea was to blame. denounced the outbreak in Warning of deadly retaliation.
Some experts believe North Korea manipulated the scale of the outbreak to allow Kim Jong-un full control of the country amid growing economic difficulties. They think the victory statement shows that Kim is looking to shift to other priorities, but worry his sister's remarks portend provocation.
Since North Korea recognized a virus outbreak in May, some 4.8 million "fever cases" have been reported among a population of 26 million, identified as COVID-19. That's just a small part of it. The outbreak has slowed for weeks and claims to have killed just 74 people.
"Since the launch of the largest emergency epidemic prevention campaign [in May], the number of daily fever cases, which reached hundreds of thousands early in the outbreak, has dropped to 90,000 a month later. Not a single case of fever suspected to be linked to the evil virus has been reported since July 29, Kim said in a speech Wednesday, according to KCNA.
“For a country that has not yet had a single dose of vaccination, in such a short period of time we will overcome the epidemic, restore public health security, and make our country a virus-free country. The revival of free zones is an amazing miracle to be recorded in global public health history," he said.
Kim Jong Il's declaring victory over COVID-19 will help other countries, including boosting a broken and heavily sanctioned economy further hit by the pandemic's closed borders and the conduct of nuclear tests. Leif said he wants to move on to the priorities of Ewha Womans University, Seoul's Eric Easley, professor of international affairs.
South Korean and U.S. officials are gearing up for their first nuclear test in five years as North Korea ferociously conducts weapons tests this year, including its first intercontinental ballistic missile demonstration since 2017.
This provocative test activity aims to use nuclear weapons to make much needed sanctions relief and security concessions. It underscores Kim's dual intent to push his arsenal forward by putting pressure on the Biden administration over long-stall negotiations, experts say.
The belligerent rhetoric of Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, shows her trying to blame South Korea for the resurgence of COVID-19, making North Korea's next military provocation Easley said he is concerned because it shows that he is trying to justify
North Korea first suggested in July that the COVID-19 outbreak began in people who came into contact with objects carried by balloons flown out of South Korea - dubious and unscientific claims For years, activists have flown balloons across the border to attract hundreds of thousands of people who criticize Kim Jong-un. Distributed propaganda leaflets.
At Wednesday's meeting, Kim Yo-jong echoed these allegations, calling the country's virus crisis a "hysterical farce" that South Korea set out to escalate the conflict. She claims her brother suffered from a fever and praises his "vigorous and meticulous guidance" that has resulted in a "breakthrough miracle" in the fight against COVID-19 Did.
She said, ``(South Korean) puppets are pushing leaflets and dirty objects into our territory. She said, "We are already considering various countermeasures, but our countermeasure must be deadly retaliation." , was not explained further.
Outside experts say North Korea temporarily reopened its northern border with China for cargo shipments in January, and a military parade and other large-scale events were held in Pyongyang in April. They suspect the virus has spread further since it took place.
In May, Mr. Kim imposed a ban on travel between cities and counties to slow the spread of the virus. But he also stressed that his economic goals should be achieved. That means huge groups continued to flock to agricultural, industrial, and construction sites.
At a virus conference, Mr Kim cited the global spread of the novel coronavirus subspecies and monkeypox, easing precautionary measures and urging nations to maintain vigilance and effective border controls. I asked.
