South Korea declares ready to use all resources to help North Korea fight Covid-19

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol addresses the National Assembly on May 16 reuters

Yonhap news agency South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol May 16 said he would use all his efforts to help North Korea deal with translation Covid-19and offered to send medical staff, vaccines and other necessary supplies if Pyongyang agreed to accept.

“We must not hesitate in providing the necessary assistance to the people of North Korea, who are facing the threat of Covid-19,” Yoon said in his first budget speech. in parliament.

“If the North Korean authorities accept it, we will not hesitate to send any necessary assistance, such as medicine, Covid-19 vaccine, medical equipment and medical staff,” the general said. Korean president added.

North Korea on May 12 announced the variant Omicron Stealth outbreak in this country after more than two years without recording any infections or deaths. According to KCNA, on May 15, North Korea recorded 15 more deaths and 296,180 more cases of fever, bringing the total number of deaths to 42 and the total number of people with fever symptoms since the end of April in the country to 820,620.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on May 13 offered to send Covid-19 vaccines and other medical supplies to North Korea. South Korea’s Unification Ministry said on May 15 that it would propose talks with North Korea as soon as possible to provide “practical help” in dealing with the virus.

Yonhap also quoted a diplomatic source on May 15 as saying that due to being severely affected by Covid-19, North Korea had requested China anti-epidemic support.

The source said that North Korea recently used diplomatic channels to ask China for assistance with materials and equipment to fight Covid-19. Negotiations between the two sides are ongoing.

The North Korea-China border remains closed but is expected to open temporarily after the two sides agree on China’s help. The Chinese and North Korean authorities have yet to comment on the report released by Yonhap on May 15.

However, China said it was prepared to fully support North Korea when necessary. At a press conference on May 13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that “China is willing to strengthen cooperation with North Korea in fighting the pandemic” and “provide assistance according to North Korea’s needs.” “, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.