Fighting COVID-19, North Korea Boosts Production Of Medical Medicines, Traditional Korean Medicines To Medical Equipment

Illustration of COVID-19 in North Korea. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea is increasing production of medicine and medical supplies, including sterilizers and thermometers, amid efforts to combat an unprecedented coronavirus outbreak.

Not only that, state media KCNA also reported that North Korea is increasing production of traditional Korean medicines used to reduce fever and pain, after being rated as "effective in the prevention and cure of dangerous diseases."

The COVID-19 wave, which was first confirmed by North Korea last week and continues to spread, has raised concerns over a lack of medical resources and a vaccine, with the UN human rights body warning of "devastating" consequences for its 25 million population.

At least 262.270 more people reported symptoms of fever, and one additional person died as of Wednesday evening, KCNA said, citing data from the country's emergency epidemic prevention headquarters.

However, as before, the data again does not determine how many people have tested positive for COVID-19. North Korea, which to date has reported 1.978.230 people with fever symptoms and 63 deaths, has imposed strict anti-virus measures.

Factories are producing more injections, drugs, thermometers and other medical supplies in the capital Pyongyang and surrounding areas "at a very rapid rate."

As a supporting measure, local authorities have also increased the alerting of isolation wards that are ready to be occupied, to the intensification of disinfection measures in all regions of the country.

"Thousands of tons of salt were immediately transported to Pyongyang City to produce an antiseptic solution," KCNA reported, as quoted by Reuters May 19.

The report comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticized the ineffective distribution of the drugs, lashing out at officials for their "immature" response to the epidemic.

Without a national vaccination campaign and COVID-19 treatment, state media have encouraged patients to use painkillers and antibiotics, as well as unverified home remedies, such as gargling with salt water, or drinking lonicera japonica tea or willow leaf tea.

Meanwhile, South Korea and the United States have each offered to help North Korea fight the outbreak, including sending aid, but have yet to receive a response, Seoul's deputy national security adviser said Wednesday.

However, three planes from North Korea's Air Koryo arrived in China and returned to Pyongyang on Monday with medical supplies, the diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity.