In the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic, North Korea sent 3 cargo planes to China
Three North Korean cargo planes arrived in China and returned earlier this week, a South Korean government official said, as Pyongyang grapples with the rapidly spreading Covid-19 outbreak.
CNN quoted the official Korea All three North Korean planes arrived at Taoxian international airport in Shenyang city, northeastern China’s Liaoning province.
It is not clear what the planes were carrying, but the rare trip came after China pledged to help Pyongyang intercept Covid-19 epidemic is spreading rapidly.
North Korean officials officially confirmed the first cases of the new strain of corona virus in the country last week. Previously, the Northeast Asian country had never acknowledged any positive cases of Covid-19 and had strictly closed its borders since January 2020. Experts have expressed concern that the outbreak could trigger a major humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country, which is under international sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs.
Since May 12, North Korea announced that it has recorded nearly 2 million cases of “fever”. State media called it a “serious national emergency” and authorities were trying to respond. All cities are now under blockade and leader Kim Jong Un has deployed the military to help ensure drug supplies in the capital, Pyongyang.
The Chinese government stated that it is ready to assist as a “comrade, neighbor and friend” of North Korea. A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said the two countries have “a good tradition of mutual assistance”.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), North Korea has yet to establish a Covid-19 vaccination program, leaving its population vulnerable to the onslaught of dangerous pathogens. The medical system in the country also lacks the necessary medicines and supplies to fight the epidemic.
The NGOs called on the United Nations and governments around the world to “make every effort to persuade Pyongyang to allow humanitarian assistance from outside”.
The South Korean government says it has offered to help North Korea, including medicines, vaccines and other medical supplies, but has not yet received a response.
Tuan Anh
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vietnamnet.vn – Read the original article here
