Date: Monday, May 30, 2022
Time: 10:30-10:35 A.M.

 

1. Regarding North Korea’s Covid-19 situation

 

As of today, 18 days have passed since North Korea officially announced its first outbreak of Covid-19. I will briefly explain about current Covid-19 situation in North Korea.

 

On May 12, when North Korea confirmed its first case of Covid-19, the number of people with fever was 18,000 and peaked on May 15 at 390,000. This number fluctuated slightly until May 19, decreased for nine consecutive days, then slightly increased again today.

 

The number of deaths per day reached the maximum of 21 on May 13 and has continued to decrease. Since May 20, there have been either a lone or zero case of death.

 

The number of people receiving treatment has also been continuously decreasing since May 19, and the number of people in quarantine and treatment today is 188,530.

 

As of today, the total number of fever cases in North Korea was 3,549,000, which is about 13% of the total population of 25.37M, estimated by Statistics Korea. As of today, the total death toll has risen to 70.

 

On the basis of the data released by North Korea in the numbers of new fever cases, deaths, and people in treatment, it is seemingly to assume that the Covid-19 situation is getting under control.

 

The Ministry of Unification will analyze and evaluate while closely monitoring the situation as North Korea continues to announce the Covid-19 figures.

 

Meanwhile, we are yet awaiting for the North’s response to our proposal for cooperation in public health and quarantine efforts.

 

2. Q&A

 

Q. What is the Government’s stance on the North’s silence on the proposal for Covid-19 cooperation after two weeks?

 

Statistically, the fever cases of North Korea may seem to have declined. What is the Ministry’s take on such observation?

 

A. It is true that North Korea has not yet responded to our proposal and its media reports suggest that the North seems to be judging that the pandemic is stabilizing.

 

However, as there is still a demand for inter-Korean cooperation to help North Korean residents who are still struggling, the Government plans to be patient and maintain an open position for North Korea's response.

 

The North’s announcement itself may indicate that its Covid-19 situation is stabilizing and improving. However, without enough information on the North’s internal affairs and the criteria for its statistics, we are in need of further observing the circumstances before making an assumption.

 

Q. Yesterday, the KCNA reported that the Political Bureau meeting deliberated on the issue of adjusting the quarantine regulations, claiming that the epidemic situation was improving. There are speculations that this can lead to lifting the lockdown measures. How does the Ministry view this current trends in North Korea?

 

A. As you mentioned, the Political Bureau reportedly discussed the issue of arranging the quarantine guidelines efficiently and quickly yesterday. Thus, the Ministry is closely monitoring North Korea’s measures to ease the lockdown that may take place in the near future.

 

Since there has not been any report by the North Korean media so far, we will continue to monitor any related reports on the lockdown and check to see if North Korea actually takes action.

 

Q. There was a report on May 26 that a freight train loaded with medical supplies headed for North Korea from Dandong, China. Is the Ministry aware of such developments, and do you have additional information related to this report?

 

A. We are aware of the report, and the Government is also paying close attention to the cooperation between North Korea and China, and the reports supporting such trends.

 

Since neither North Korea nor China has yet to officially confirm the matter, the Ministry has no further comment on this issue.