Updated on 08/11/2022 at 1:37 pm
- A case of corona was confirmed in North Korea for the first time about three months ago.
- According to Kim Jong Un, the country has already overcome the “fever cases”.
- According to his sister, the ruler himself had contracted COVID-19.
According to his sister, the ruler of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, fell ill during the Corona outbreak in the country. Kim “suffered from a high fever during the days of this quarantine war,” Kim Yo Jong said, according to state news agency KCNA on Thursday.
“But he couldn’t lie down for a moment and think about the people he’s responsible for.” It is the first time North Korea has mentioned a possible corona infection from its ruler.
Kim Jong Un announces “brilliant victory” in the fight against Corona
Kim Jong Un had previously announced a “brilliant victory” in the fight against the corona pandemic. In a meeting with health officials, he said, according to KCNA, “the victory achieved by our people is a historic event that once again shows the world the greatness of our state and the indomitable tenacity of our people.” Authorities had previously said that there had been no new cases of corona for nearly two weeks.
North Korea, which is largely isolated internationally, confirmed an outbreak of the omicron variant in the capital Pyongyang in May. According to KCNA, a total of 4.8 million infections and only 74 deaths have been reported, which would represent an extremely low fatality rate. Now, it is said that there have not been any new cases since July 29.
According to experts, the country has one of the worst health systems in the world. Hospitals are poorly equipped and have few intensive care units, so there are no corona virus vaccines or COVID-19 medication. North Korea has always spoken of “fever patients” in case reports, not “COVID patients” – possibly due to a lack of testing capacity.
Kim’s sister blames South Korea for outbreak
Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister has now blamed South Korea for the Corona outbreak and threatened retaliation. Yo Jong said balloons carrying fliers and money sent across the border by South Korean activists led to the outbreak, according to a KCNA report on Thursday.
Many countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recognized “the risk of spreading an infectious disease through contact with contaminated objects,” said Yo Jong. “It is concerning that South Korea is sending pamphlets, money, shoddy pamphlets and items to our region.”
She spoke of a “crime against humanity” and threatened “strong retaliation”: if more balloons are launched from South Korea towards North Korea, “we will not only eliminate the virus, but also the South Korean authorities”. (dpa/mbo) © dpa
Updated on 05/08/2022 15:42
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s first nuclear test in nearly five years According to the United Nations, the evidence for this is mounting. Pyongyang apparently also stole the money for this with hackers.
Teaser image: © imago images/AFLO/Pyeongyang Press Corps