North Korea recorded 6 deaths, more than 18,000 cases of COVID-19 in a day

Kim Jong Un wears a mask during an anti-epidemic steering meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, on May 12 – Photo: KCTV

In the news on May 13, KCNA first provided data on the number of COVID-19 cases in North Korea. Accordingly, the country has an additional 18,000 symptomatic cases and 6 deaths just on May 12.

Since the epidemic spread “nationally explosive” from April 2022, North Korea has recorded a total of more than 350,000 cases. About 187,000 cases are being isolated for treatment and about 162,000 have been treated, KCNA reported, but did not specify how many cases tested positive.

The KCNA said that samples of the patients last week showed they were infected with the Omicron variant BA.2 line, but did not disclose the number of infections.

On May 12, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the national emergency isolation command center to check on anti-epidemic efforts. He also presided over a meeting of the North’s Politburo in Pyongyang.

At the meeting, Kim Jong Un wore a mask when pledging to deal with the epidemic and directed officials to strictly blockade cities and regions nationwide to prevent the spread of the disease. He said the current outbreak, which is centered in the capital Pyongyang, shows a gap in the epidemic prevention system.

According to Kim, North Korea will focus on preventing the spread of the virus as well as treating patients to prevent the epidemic from spreading. He pledged that North Korea will overcome the epidemic at all costs in the context that the people have raised awareness and solidarity in the past time.

“A more dangerous enemy than the virulent virus is unscientific fear, lack of faith and weak will,” Kim said.

In addition, the North Korean leader also asked officials to continue planning economic development and construction projects to avoid weakening the economy.