JAKARTA - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a ceremony to thank and praise military medics for their success in the fight against the coronavirus in the capital Pyongyang, Friday.

Thousands of Korean People's Army medics, who had been sent to the 'emergency anti-epidemic front', were repatriated after Leader Kim declared victory over COVID-19 and relaxed restrictions last week.

Leader Kim held an event at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang on Thursday, to celebrate the "heroic achievements" of medics on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle.

"Noting that the army medics are taking the greatest difficulty to ease the anti-epidemic crisis in the capital, he expresses his warm gratitude to those who display the tireless spirit, as well as the invincible fighting power of our army," the official KCNA news agency said. Reuters August 19.

"He specially summoned and congratulated the medics, who did a remarkable feat in the anti-epidemic struggle of the capital."

Kim Jong-un bersama tentara medis
Kim Jong-un (white with medical soldiers. (Source: KCNA)

KCNA said this week, military medics were recalled to their units on Sunday without a discharge ceremony.

Leader Kim said he felt "empty and regretful" at not being able to do much to honor their sacrifice, the report said.

North Korea has never confirmed how many people have contracted COVID, apparently lacking the tools to conduct widespread testing.

Meanwhile, infectious disease experts cast doubt on North Korea's claims of progress. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the COVID-19 situation there could get worse, not better, citing the absence of independent data.


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