Preparations For Kuncitara In North Korea Are Intensive Even Though The First COVID-19 Case Has Not Been Confirmed

Namdaemun, Kaesong, North Korea. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - North Korea appears to be stepping up their efforts to stem the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be seen from the alertness of the Head of Nominal State of North Korea (North Korea) Choe Ryong Hae, who immediately went to check the state of the border near Kaesong City. Korea is intensifying its key preparations even though the first COVID-19 cases have yet to be confirmed.

As reported by the North Korean government media, KCNA, quoted by Reuters, North Korea previously claimed that its country had no COVID-19 cases. However, the situation has now turned around, the government has tightly locked the city of Kaesong, which is close to the South Korean border.

According to Seoul officials, a man (24) from North Korea who defected to South Korea in 2017 has returned to North Korea. He is considered the person who brought the new corona virus to North Korea. But according to South Korean officials, he returned to North Korea after stumbling over sexual crimes in the Land of Ginseng.

Until now North Korea has not officially confirmed that the man tested positive for COVID-19. Even so, the man was showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Meanwhile South Korean health officials insist the man had no symptoms of COVID-19 before crossing the border. The proof, there are two people who had contact with him tested negative.

North Korea stands by

Choe Ryong Hae, who also holds the post of President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, has visited Kaesong City and its nearby districts. He confirmed that virus prevention measures will continue, said the official KCNA news agency.

In the embodiment of the policy, Choe Ryong Hae was also known to have set up anti-epidemic checkpoints around Kaesong City. It is also known that he will study in detail about the anti-epidemic program. Meanwhile, he ensured that medical supplies and food were always ready during the lockdown.

"He stressed that disinfection and quarantine must be carried out strictly as supplies including food and medicine are provided for Kaesong residents," wrote KCNA.

The North Korean government's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, also called for comprehensive measures to prevent transmission of the virus. There is a warning that the public should not neglect to suppress the transmission of the virus.

"Although there is not a single infection in our country, a moment of neglect can lead to a fatal crisis which we cannot imagine or fix," the paper wrote.

Rodong Sinmun also wrote that public health workers went to great lengths to ensure that medical examinations of agency employees, companies and residents were intensified. Everyone is required to wear a mask and disinfect their hands.

Inspection and quarantine officials for exports and imports across the country strictly adhere to anti-epidemic regulations. They carry out more checks on imported goods and ensure that the goods sent are sterile.