North Korean leader issues special order on medicine supply against epidemic: state media North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during an emergency meeting in Pyongyang, May 16. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rebuked officials for failing to deliver medicine to its people in time amid the COVID-19 outbreak there, and ordered the mobilization of military personnel to stabilize supplies in the capital, state media said Monday.The political bureau of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea convened an emergency consultative meeting again to discuss measures for epidemic control Sunday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).During the meeting, Kim expressed his dissatisfaction that medicine has not been properly supplied to pharmacies, although the politburo had issued "an emergency order to immediately release and timely supply state reserve medicines" and an "order for all pharmacies to switch over to the 24-hour operation system."Kim then issued an "order of the chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission on immediately stabiMay 16, 2022
INTERVIEW Too late for vaccines to halt COVID spread in North Korea: virologist In this file photo taken March 18, employees spray disinfectant and wipe surfaces as part of preventative measures against COVID-19 at the Pyongyang Children's Department Store in Pyongyang. North Korea on Sunday confirmed 15 additional deaths from an “explosive” fever outbreak and more than 290,000 additional patients with flu-like symptoms. AFP-Yonhap15 more deaths confirmed; total caseload surpasses 820,000 in just 3 daysBy Jung Min-hoHakim DjaballahWith the COVID-19 situation getting out of control in North Korea, it appears to be too late now to use vaccines to halt or slow down its spread, according to a virologist who specializes in infectious diseases.North Korea on Sunday confirmed 15 additional deaths from an “explosive” fever outbreak and more than 290,000 additional patients with flu-like symptoms. After reporting its “first” coronavirus case on Thursday, North Korea confirmed 42 such deaths as of 6 p.m. Saturday, with 820,620 cases and at least 324,550 receiving medical treatment.But the true number is likely to be far higher and, withMay 15, 2022By Jung Min-ho
COVID outbreak increases North Korea's reliance on China A teacher takes the body temperature of a schoolgirl to help curb the spread of the coronavirus before entering Kim Song Ju Primary School in Central District in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this Oct. 13, 2021 file photo. Before officially acknowledging domestic COVID-19 cases, Thursday, North Korea spent 2 1/2 years rejecting outside offers of vaccines and steadfastly claiming that its superior socialist system was protecting its 26 million people from “a malicious virus” that had killed millions around the world. AP-YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooAs North Korea's COVID-19 situation has gone out of control after confirming its first case of the infectious disease last week, the reclusive state is leaning on its ally, China, to overcome the crisis. South Korea is expected to propose working-level talks with Pyongyang this week.According to North Korea's emergency epidemic prevention headquarters, some 296,000 fever cases had been reported Saturday, with 15 deaths. The North's COVID-19 cases skyrocketed from 18,000 reported Thursday and 174,000 on Friday.Despite Pyongyang announcing tMay 15, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
South Korea to propose talks with North Korea over pandemic support Unification Minister Kwon Young-se / YonhapSouth Korea is to propose working-level talks with North Korea, a senior official said Sunday, in an apparent move to help the North contain the spread of COVID-19.Last week, Pyongyang declared the implementation of a "maximum emergency" virus control system as it acknowledged an outbreak of COVID-19 for the first time since the pandemic began. North Korea had claimed for over two years that it was free of the coronavirus."The government is actively reviewing to officially propose holding a working-level meeting to North Korea at the beginning of the week," a senior South Korean official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity, citing policy.The official said the administration plans to deliver its proposal to the North after holding consultations with relevant ministries.The move could pick up speed after new Unification Minister Kwon Young-se takes office Monday.The offer, if accepted, would mark the first talks between the two Koreas since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office last week, promising an audacious plan to vastly strenMay 15, 2022
North Korea reports 15 new deaths from COVID-19 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, wearing a mask, visits the State Emergency Epidemic Prevention Headquarters in Pyongyang, May 12, in this screen grab from the North's Korean Central TV. YonhapNorth Korea reported 15 additional deaths from COVID-19 for Saturday, and 296,180 more people with symptoms of fever nationwide.The new cases, which occurred between Friday evening and 6 p.m. Saturday, raised the total deaths to 42 and the number of those with fever symptoms to over 820,620 since late April, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Among them, more than 496,030 have recovered and at least 324,550 are being treated, it added, citing data compiled by the State Emergency Epidemic Prevention Headquarters.The North's state-controlled media have used the expression "fevered persons," instead of coronavirus patients or confirmed cases, which observers here view as attributable to lack of coronavirus testing kits and other equipment to confirm infection.With "swift state emergency measures" taken to curb the spread of the virus, the KCNA said in its English-languageMay 15, 2022
North Korean leader says his country faces 'great turmoil' Kim Jong-un wears a face mask as he presides over a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party regarding the North's first known case of COVID-19 in Pyongyang, May 12, in this screen grab from North Korea's Korean Central TV. YonhapNorth Korea reported 21 additional COVID-19 deaths for Friday, with more than 174,400 people nationwide suffering from a “fever,” as its leader Kim Jong-un stated that his country is faced with "great turmoil due to the spread of the virus.Pyongyang's state media released the updated tally, after Kim presided over an early-morning politburo meeting.Kim was quoted as saying that the spread of the malicious coronavirus was "great turmoil since the country's founding."A total of around 524,440 people in North Korea have shown symptoms of fever between late April and May 13, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Among them, 243,630 have been completely cured, with roughly 280,810 being treated, it added.On Thursday, the reclusive North announced its first outbreak of COVID-19 since January 2020. (Yonhap)May 14, 2022
Does US support Yoon's hawkish stance on North Korea? Washington wants to maintain status quo with Pyongyang: expertsBy Kang Seung-wooNew South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's policy toward North Korea can be summed up in one word, “hardline,” based on his previous remarks during the campaign. On the campaign trail, Yoon, a foreign policy neophyte, mentioned a pre-emptive strike in case of signs of an imminent North Korean nuclear attack, while pledging to deploy an additional U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile defense system to counter Pyongyang's evolving missile threats, both of which drew fiery responses from North Korea. In addition, the Yoon administration is considering referring to North Korea as South Korea's “main enemy” in its defense white paper. Plus, he is open to inter-Korean talks only when North Korea genuinely embarks on the path to complete denuclearization.However, it remains to be seen if the United States will stand up for its ally's hawkish stance on the Kim Jong-un regime, which could ratchet up tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as Washington, already preoccupieMay 14, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
N. Korea appears ready for nuclear test: presidential official North Korea's state media reported that the country conducted a test-firing of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), March 24. YonhapNorth Korea appears to be ready for its seventh nuclear test, an official at South Korea's presidential office said Friday. Before a nuclear test, the North could test-launch ballistic missiles, the official said. The government plans to draw up "very detailed action plans" about North Korea, and other regional and global issues ahead of an upcoming summit between President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden, the official said.The official said a nuclear test would have a short-term impact on the South's economy, but many experts believe Russia's invasion of Ukraine and global economic fundamentals would likely be "bigger structural variables." On Thursday, North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, in its first major provocation since Yoon took office Tuesday. The launch, the North's 16th show of force this year, came amid lingering concerns Pyongyang could carry out a nuclear test, as Yoon andMay 13, 2022
Allies' North Korea policy at crossroads amid COVID spread in Pyongyang In this March 18 file photo, employees spray disinfectant as part of preventative measures against COVID-19 at the Pyongyang Children's Department Store in Pyongyang. AFP-YonhapPresident Yoon offers to provide Pyongyang with COVID-19 vaccinesBy Nam Hyun-wooSouth Korea and the United States face a watershed moment in their policies toward North Korea, as the reclusive regime has made it public that it is experiencing an “explosive” outbreak of COVID-19. According to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Friday, the country has reported six deaths from the pandemic, with one of them testing positive for the Omicron variant. It added that symptoms of fever were newly reported among more than 18,000 people on the day alone.“A fever whose cause couldn't be identified explosively spread nationwide from late April and more than 350,000 people got fever in a short span of time,” the agency reported. “And at least 162,200 out of them were healed completely.” The report came just a day after the regime for the first time acknowledged the coronavirus outbreMay 13, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Yoon offers to send COVID-19 vaccines to N. Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol presides over an economic monitoring meeting at the Korea Center for International Finance building in Seoul's Jung District, Friday, in this photo provided by the presidential office. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol offered to send COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea, Friday, his spokesperson said, a day after Pyongyang acknowledged an outbreak for the first time since the pandemic began. After claiming for over two years that it was coronavirus-free, the North reported its first case of COVID-19, Thursday, saying the country declared the implementation of the "maximum emergency" virus control system."President Yoon Suk-yeol plans to provide the North Korean people with COVID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies," presidential spokesperson Kang In-sun said in a statement. "Suspected cases are said to be rising explosively in North Korea recently due to a massive COVID-19 outbreak. We will hold discussions with the North Korean side about detaiMay 13, 2022
