Kim Jong-un Fires North Korean Officials To Hold Politburo Meeting Of Labor Party

JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized top ruling party officials for failing in anti-epidemic work, causing major incidents, endangering the safety of the country and people, state news agency said.

However, citing Reuters on Wednesday, June 30, the North Korean news agency KCNA did not specify in its report what happened, or how the incident endangered the safety of the country and the North Korean population.

North Korea has not officially confirmed any cases of COVID-19, claims South Korean and US officials have questioned. However, the reclusive country has imposed strict anti-virus measures, including border closures and domestic travel restrictions.

Kim held a meeting of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea to discuss the neglect of duties of some party executives, including the failure to implement important long-term measures to fight the pandemic, KCNA said.

"The Secretary-General (Kim Jong-un) pointed to a serious incident that created a major crisis for the safety of the country and people, and the serious consequences that resulted," the report said.

Several members of the politburo, secretaries of the central committee, and officials from several North Korean institutions were replaced at the meeting, although KCNA did not specify whether the reshuffle was related to a waiver of duties related to the pandemic.

Last year, North Korea said it had declared a state of emergency and locked down the border town of Kaesong, after someone who defected to South Korea three years ago returned across the border with what state media said were symptoms of COVID-19.

For information, the World Health Organization (WHO) later said the results of North Korea's coronavirus test for the man were inconclusive.