(CNN) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mobilized the military to respond to the first covid-19 outbreak officially recognized in the country, as the impoverished nation struggles to address what state media has described as a “major national emergency”.
Despite having closed all cities on Thursday, only between this Saturday and this Sunday night another 392,920 new cases of “fever” and eight deaths were registered, the state media KCNA reported this Monday, although it did not specify the covid-19 as the cause of death.
That brings the total number of reported cases to 1.2 million, with more than 648,000 recovered and a total of 50 dead. However, many experts are skeptical of the official figures, with few believing that a country of some 25 million people has so far been spared a virus that has infected millions of people around the world.
At an emergency meeting of senior officials on Sunday, Kim said state-provided medicines were not being supplied to people through pharmacies on time. He criticized officials for “not properly acknowledging the current crisis, but only talking about the spirit of devotedly serving the people,” according to KCNA.
He criticized his cabinet and public health officials for “irresponsible work” and poor “organization and execution,” and accused the director of the central public prosecutor’s office of “slackness and dereliction of duty,” KCNA reported.
Kim ordered army doctors to work to “immediately stabilize the drug supply in Pyongyang city,” according to the KCNA, and discussed ways to ensure hygiene in pharmacies.
After the meeting, Kim visited pharmacies in the capital, where he pointed out the shortage of medicines.
Over the weekend, the country’s state television broadcast footage of medical workers spraying empty streets. It also published an interview with a doctor who advised covid patients to take medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and traditional Korean medicine such as Cheongsimhwan, a pill formulated with various herbs.
And Covid-19 outbreak could be disastrous for North Koreawith its dilapidated healthcare infrastructure, lack of testing equipment, and a largely unvaccinated population.
North Korea is not known to have imported any coronavirus vaccines, although it is eligible for the global covid-19 vaccine exchange program, Covax. In February, Covax reportedly reduced the number of doses allocated to North Korea because the country failed to arrange any shipments, according to Archyde.com.
Given the opaque nature of the regime and the isolation of the country from the world, which has only grown since the pandemic, it is extremely difficult to assess the real situation on the ground.
People in Seoul, South Korea watch a TV news report about the Covid-19 outbreak in North Korea on May 14.
South Korea offered assistance on Monday, although it is unclear if Pyongyang will accept the help.
“We must not stop providing necessary assistance to the North Korean people, who are exposed to the threat of the coronavirus,” newly elected South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said during his first budget speech in the legislature.
“If the North Korean authorities accept, we will spare no necessary support such as medicines, including COVID-19 vaccines, medical equipment and health care personnel,” he said, adding that the offer is independent of political and military considerations.
South Korea’s foreign minister said on Friday that he had discussed delivering humanitarian aid to North Korea during a call with his US counterpart.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it had notified North Korea of its offer on Monday through the inter-Korean joint liaison office. His formal letter includes the offer of medical supplies, including vaccines, masks and test kits, as well as an offer of “working-level talks” between the two countries, the ministry said. North Korea has not yet responded to the notice, it added.