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World Outbreak: North Korea Announced an Infection Case

North Korea has reported its “first” coronavirus infection case. A person who escaped to South Korea recently crossed the border on July 19 to return back to North Korea. He was suspected of being infected with the coronavirus in Kaesong city, which is close to the border with South Korea.

On July 24, Kim Jong-un ordered Kaesong to be locked down. He held an emergency politburo meeting on July 25 and announced the implementation of emergency measures for Kaesong.

North Korea had not previously reported any infection cases, though the international community suspects that it hides the truth from the world.

In the past, North Korea had several politburo meetings and adopted several measures regarding the coronavirus, which also makes people wonder if the country has been infected:

  • January 22: Stopped visitors from entering the country. Closed the border with China and stopped international flights and trains.
  • February 28: Extended the winter break for all students and delayed the start of school.
  • February 29: Held a politburo meeting on fighting the coronavirus.
  • April 11: Held a politburo meeting and passed a joint resolution to continue increasing the national emergency pandemic prevention efforts.
  • July 2: Held a politburo meeting on increasing the national emergency pandemic prevention efforts. Kim Jong-un said that recklessly lifting the pandemic prevention measures would lead to an unimaginable and irreversible fatal crisis.

Related postings on Chinascope:

Excerpt in Chinese:

据朝中社报道,一名“脱北者”19日在位于朝韩边境的开城市从韩国一侧偷越国境进入朝鲜,经过检查发现该非法越境者疑似感染新冠病毒。防疫机关对该非法越境者采取彻底隔离措施,还同有关部门联系,调查5日内与其接触过的所有人员和到过开城市的人,并对他们采取检测和隔离措施。

报道说,朝鲜劳动党25日召开政治局紧急扩大会议,宣布在开城地区实施紧急状态。朝鲜劳动党委员长、国务委员会委员长、武装力量最高司令官金正恩出席并主持会议。

朝中社援引金正恩的话说,24日下午获悉这一紧急情况后彻底封锁了开城市,并采取措施隔绝相关区域和地区。金正恩宣布在该地区实施紧急状态,将国家紧急防疫体系转为“最大紧急体制”。

朝鲜此前都采取了哪些防控举措?一起通过时间线回顾下:

——1月22日,开始暂停游客入境,随后封锁边界并暂停国际航班和客运。

——据朝鲜劳动党中央机关报《劳动新闻》2月28日报道,为防范新冠肺炎疫情,朝鲜各级各类学校将延长寒假时间,推迟开学。

——据朝中社2月29日报道,朝鲜劳动党中央日前举行政治局扩大会议,就抗击新冠肺炎疫情进行了新部署。金正恩说,有关部门要全面封锁传染病可能进入的一切途径和漏洞,同时加强防控疫情的检验检疫工作。

——据朝中社4月12日报道,朝鲜劳动党中央政治局会议4月11日在平壤举行。会议通过了朝鲜劳动党中央委员会、国务委员会、内阁抗击疫情的共同决议书,要求继续加大国家紧急防疫工作力度。

——据朝中社7月3日报道,朝鲜劳动党第七届中央委员会第十四次政治局扩大会议7月2日举行。会议主要讨论了加强国家紧急防疫工作,进一步巩固当前防疫形势问题。金正恩说,轻率解除防疫措施将招致不可想象的、无可挽回的致命危机。

Source: Sina, July 26, 2020
https://news.sina.com.cn/w/2020-07-26/doc-iivhvpwx7580244.shtml