The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Woman killed in stopped car struck by bus on highway

  • 3

    Yoon faces strong political backlash after Tokyo summit

  • 5

    Apple Pay's imminent launch in Korea draws mixed responses

  • 7

    Centre Pompidou's Korean branch to open in 63 Building

  • 9

    Actor Yoo Ah-in to appear for questioning Friday over alleged drug use

  • 11

    INTERVIEWNorth Korean-born chef delights Southerners' taste buds, breaks down cultural barriers

  • 13

    ANALYSISYoon-Kishida summit may 'raise ceiling' for trilateral cooperation with US: expert

  • 15

    North Korea fires ballistic missile as US bombers join drills

  • 17

    UBS eyeing swoop for Credit Suisse, sources say, amid fears of banking contagion

  • 19

    Could Doosan Robotics be valued at 1 trillion won in IPO?

  • 2

    Koreans wish to work less than 40 hours per week: survey

  • 4

    Mask mandate on public transportation to end Monday

  • 6

    Korea sets record of half million economically inactive youth

  • 8

    Video footage highlights details of stepmother's fatal abuse of 12-year-old

  • 10

    Commuters still wear masks despite end of mask mandate on public transportation

  • 12

    New EU trade policies unnerve Korean firms

  • 14

    KAIST student becomes first Korean recipient of Apple Scholars fellowship

  • 16

    Land minister fortifies city building cooperation with Indonesia

  • 18

    Whisky sales at E-Mart outlets exceed soju sales in Jan.-Feb. period

  • 20

    Trump expects to be arrested Tuesday as DA eyes charges

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
North Korea
Tue, March 21, 2023 | 17:12
North Korean leader infected with COVID-19, state media says
Posted : 2022-08-30 16:43
Updated : 2022-08-31 16:22
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gestures while meeting soldiers from a medical unit who completed emergency anti-epidemic missions. Yonhap
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gestures while meeting soldiers from a medical unit who completed emergency anti-epidemic missions. Yonhap

By Lee Hae-rin

Pyongyang's official Rodong Shinmun daily confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been infected with COVID-19.

The official confirmation by the state-run newspaper came weeks after Kim's sister, Yo-jong, hinted at her brother's infection while presiding over an emergency meeting on Aug. 11 where she declared a victory over the virus. She said her brother was seriously ill with a high fever, but could not lie down due to concerns about caring for the North Korean people.

Rodong Shinmun detailed the North Korean leader's recent moves since the country reported its first confirmed infection case in May.

Regarding Kim's condition, the newspaper said "the much respected leader has greatly suffered in high fever in the middle of the anti-pandemic battle," and he paid a visit to meet the workers who were then infected with the virus. "The workers there were teary and held their emotions as they saw the leader who was there and encouraged them at the risk of contagion," it added.

The daily said Kim contacted the infected workers on May 12 when he declared the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in North Korea during a politburo meeting and then visited the headquarters for disease control and epidemic prevention.

The state-run media has reported Kim's contacts with infected people several times since the breakout in May.

"When the great leader visited the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters on the first night since the maximum emergency anti-pandemic measures have been in place, some of the officials there were already infected with the 'malignant epidemic'," the daily said.

Rodong Sinmun also said that Kim visited pharmacies in Pyongyang in May to check the country's supply of medicine. The report said that one of the pharmacists that Kim met had not fully recovered from a COVID-19 infection and continued coughing while meeting him. The North Korean leader reportedly expressed concerns over the infected pharmacist's health and was seen wearing two layers of dental masks during the tour.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gestures while meeting soldiers from a medical unit who completed emergency anti-epidemic missions. Yonhap
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a national meeting on anti-epidemic measures in Pyongyang, Aug. 10, in this photo released by the official Korean Central News Agency. Newsis-AP

On Aug. 12, Kim's sister declared victory in the battle over the coronavirus and lifted the country's "maximum emergency anti-pandemic" measures. It was three months after the nation reported the first confirmed case in May.

However, the country saw four additional cases last week, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The total number of infections has not been revealed.

Choi Jong-hoon, a former infectious disease doctor from North Korea, said the state-run newspaper's report appears to be propaganda aiming to maintain loyalty to the party and doubted the nation's claim of overcoming the ongoing global pandemic.

"North Korean people have suffered greatly during the past three years of the pandemic," Choi said, "They have grown tired of financial difficulties and it seems that North Korean officials now feel the need to show the public how Kim Jong-un himself has been in pain and suffered."

Choi added that it is a "nonsense" that the country alone has stamped out the coronavirus, while the rest of the world is still in the midst of the pandemic.


Emaillhr@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG Group
Top 10 Stories
1Woman killed in stopped car struck by bus on highway Woman killed in stopped car struck by bus on highway
2Korea sets record of half million economically inactive youth Korea sets record of half million economically inactive youth
3Commuters still wear masks despite end of mask mandate on public transportation Commuters still wear masks despite end of mask mandate on public transportation
4[INTERVIEW] North Korean-born chef delights Southerners' taste buds, breaks down cultural barriers INTERVIEWNorth Korean-born chef delights Southerners' taste buds, breaks down cultural barriers
5KAIST student becomes first Korean recipient of Apple Scholars fellowship KAIST student becomes first Korean recipient of Apple Scholars fellowship
6COVID-hit Myeong-dong bounces back as tourists return COVID-hit Myeong-dong bounces back as tourists return
7Public officials reluctant to dine with coworkers Public officials reluctant to dine with coworkers
8Brides in early 40s outnumber those in early 20s Brides in early 40s outnumber those in early 20s
9OTT service providers negatively impacted by illegal streaming website OTT service providers negatively impacted by illegal streaming website
10[ANALYSIS] Yoon-Kishida meeting raises expectations of 3-way summit with China ANALYSISYoon-Kishida meeting raises expectations of 3-way summit with China
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Centre Pompidou's Korean branch to open in 63 Building Centre Pompidou's Korean branch to open in 63 Building
2Celebrities head back abroad to film K-food reality shows Celebrities head back abroad to film K-food reality shows
3Park Sung-woong talks about filming 'Woong Nam' with comedian-turned-director Park Sung-woong talks about filming 'Woong Nam' with comedian-turned-director
4Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year
5From sky to deserted islands, two artists' documentation of nature adds surreal touch to reality From sky to deserted islands, two artists' documentation of nature adds surreal touch to reality
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group