Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un applied a complete lockdown in the city of Kesong near the South Korean border, stating that he believed “this ferocious virus” had entered the country. Government media reported on Sunday that suspicious signs of Covid-19 have been found in a person. If this person is officially declared infected, this will be the first confirmed case of coronavirus in North Korea. North Korea has been consistently saying that there is not a single case of infection in its country. However, foreign experts have been questioning his claim. The Korean Central News Agency reported that the lockdown was announced on Friday afternoon. The suspected case is of a man who fled to South Korea years ago and illegally crossed the border into North Korea last week. KCNA reported that investigations suggest the person may have been infected with the coronavirus.
He said that the suspected patient and those who had come in contact with him in Kesong in the last five days have been kept in isolation. Describing anti-virus efforts as “a matter of national survival”, North Korea closed all borders earlier this year, banning foreign tourists, and any signs of infection from health workers to anyone He was asked to live in isolation. However, the lockdown imposed in Kesong is the first step in the country to prevent this infection. Foreign experts say the outbreak of the corona virus in North Korea can have serious consequences, as its health system is very poor and it lacks medical supplies. Kaesong city, with a population of about 200,000 people, is located north of the border with South Korea.
According to KCNA, at the Politburo’s emergency meeting on Saturday, Kim also declared a state of emergency in Kesong area. She quoted Kim as saying, “This is a serious situation in which the ferocious virus is expected to enter the country.” The agency reported that Kim said he had “taken preventive measures since July 24 by completely closing the city of Kesong and ending contact with each district and region.” The meeting also discussed the deficiencies of security personnel on the border area, due to which the suspected patient crossed the border and entered North Korea. The Government of South Korea has not yet commented on North Korea’s announcement
