1.4 Million Citizens Have Fever And 56 People Die In The Middle Of A Wave Of COVID-19, North Korea Mobilizes Military

JAKARTA - North Korean authorities are mobilizing its military to distribute COVID-19 drugs, as well as deploying more than 10.000 health workers, to help track infection cases as the country deals with the coronavirus, according to state media KCNA.

Korea recognized and confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the first time last year, followed by subsequent appearances of cases and symptoms, sparking fears of a major crisis due to a lack of vaccines and adequate medical infrastructure.

The state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters reported 269.510 more people with fever symptoms, bringing the total to 1.483.060, while the death toll rose to 56 as of Monday evening, KCNA said. It did not say how many people had tested positive for COVID-19.

"The powerful force of the army medical corps was immediately deployed to increase the supply of medicine in the capital Pyongyang, the epicenter of the epidemic, following the orders of leader Kim Jong-un," KCNA reported as citing Reuters May 17.

The team's mission aims to "defuse the public health crisis" in Pyongyang, he said.

Several senior members of the ruling Labor Party's politburo visited pharmacies and drug management offices to check supply and demand, KCNA wrote, after Leader Kim criticized the drug's ineffective distribution.

"They called for stricter regulations in maintaining and handling health supplies, while maintaining the principle of prioritizing people's requests and convenience in supplies," KCNA explained.

Search efforts have also intensified, with some 11.000 health officials, teachers, and medical students joining "intensive medical examinations, of all residents" across the country to find and treat people with fevers.

However, various sectors of the national economy maintain production and construction, while taking comprehensive anti-virus measures, KCNA added, with Leader Kim ordering that limited activities be allowed in every city and county.

Separately, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the virus could spread rapidly in North Korea, which has no vaccination program and is refusing international help.

Meanwhile, South Korea offered working-level talks on Monday to send medical supplies, including vaccines, masks, and test kits, as well as technical cooperation, but said North Korea had not acknowledged its message.

The United States Department of State said it was concerned about the potential impact of the outbreak on North Koreans, supporting vaccine assistance to the country.

"To this end, we strongly support and encourage the efforts of US and international aid and health organizations to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 and to provide other forms of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups in this country," a spokesperson said.

The spokesman confirmed that the US envoy to North Korea, Sung Yong Kim, had had a phone call with South Korea's new nuclear negotiator, Kim Gunn, without elaborating.