South Korea Press Reports North Korea Is Hiding Coronavirus Cases
NORTH KOREA HIDING CORONAVIRUS – Amidst the Wuhan virus outbreak, all neighboring countries of North Korea had already had confirmed cases of the virus.
However, North Korea had yet to confirm any. This caused many to speculate that it was hiding the cases of the coronavirus that have caused the deaths of over 904 people globally to the public.
But, according to an article from The Daily Beast, the virus had reportedly spread across the border from China and has hit North Korea hard.
One sign of the virus outbreak hitting North Korea was the cancellation of Pyongyang’s big parade in celebration of the country’s 72nd anniversary of the founding of their armed forces.
Last year, the leader of the country, Kim Jong Un, personally led the parade which displayed North Korea’s latest missiles and new military equipment. This was accompanied by hundreds of soldiers marching with him on the streets.
According to a report from Daily NK, a Seoul-based media website, five people had died in the city of Sinuiju, on the Yalu River across road and rail bridges from Dandong.
This would be the largest Chinese city in the region which also happened to be a key center for commerce in North Korea despite the previous sanctions.
As per the article, North Korea had not given an explanation as to why the annual display was canceled. However, inside sources from North Korea said authorities had ordered public health officials to dispose of dead bodies to keep deaths a secret from the public.
One of the first patients in North Korea was reportedly hospitalized in Sinuiju and had symptoms of a cold. The patient was then given fever reducers and antibiotics. However, the patient died as the fever rose.
Two days later, two more patients succumbed to similar symptoms in another hospital in Sinuiju and the other two died in a nearby town.
According to a former U.S. diplomat who is an expert in North Korean issues, Evans Revere, North Korea “simply defies credibility”.
He added that North Korea has had abysmal health care systems, inadequate public health institutions and depended on China for 90% of their trade.
In addition, Revere said that North Korea had recently opened its doors to a major influx of Chinese tourists to get foreign exchange. This opens up questions as to how they avoided having lots of victims.
The regime’s relative isolation from the international community hinders the widespread penetration of many diseases from abroad
However, the porous nature of the border with China and frequent travel is a clear vector for the virus’ transmission
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo, their top-selling newspaper, cited an anonymous source that stated:
The infections most likely spread through porous parts of the border with China that see plenty of smuggling and other clandestine traffic
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