Citing a government notice, Seoul-based media reported that authorities in the North Korean capital Pyongyang had ordered a five-day lockdown due to a rise in instances of an undisclosed respiratory infection. The warning did not mention COVID-19 but stated that city residents must remain inside their homes until Sunday night and must adhere to daily temperature checks.

The website noted on Tuesday that inhabitants of Pyongyang appeared to be stockpiling products ahead of more severe restrictions. If new lockdowns have been implemented in other parts of the nation, it remains unknown. The first COVID-19 outbreak was reported last year, but by August, the virus had been proclaimed eradicated. The intrusive nation never disclosed the number of COVID cases, perhaps due to a lack of resources for widespread testing.

Instead, it listed the daily total of patients with fever, which, out of a population of around 25 million, reached 4.77 million. But since July 29, there have been no similar incidents reported. State-run media have kept up their coverage of anti-epidemic measures to combat respiratory illnesses like the flu, but they haven’t yet covered the lockdown order. The city of Kaesong, which is close to the South Korean border, reportedly increased public awareness campaigns on Tuesday “so that all the working people observe anti-epidemic regulations voluntarily in their work and life.”

First Covid case reported by North Korea

North Korea officially acknowledged its first COVID-19 cases in late April 2020 and immediately imposed strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including closing its borders, imposing quarantines, and launching a nationwide campaign to test and isolate suspected cases. Despite these measures, there were reports of a significant number of cases and deaths in the country, though the true extent of the outbreak is difficult to verify due to a lack of transparency in North Korea’s healthcare system.

In March 2021, North Korea declared victory over the virus, claiming that it had successfully contained the outbreak with no recent cases being reported. However, it is not clear if this claim is accurate, as there is limited information available about the situation in North Korea. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also said that it has not been able to verify the country’s claims of having no new cases. 

Other countries response to North Korea’s Covid situation

Countries around the world have been closely monitoring the situation in North Korea regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and have been providing assistance where possible. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working with the government of North Korea to respond to the outbreak, providing medical supplies and technical assistance. Some other countries have also provided assistance to North Korea in the form of medical aid and other supplies.

It is important to note that North Korea’s isolationist policies and lack of transparency make it difficult to verify information about the country’s response to the pandemic. The international community has been urging North Korea to be more transparent about the situation and to cooperate with the WHO and other international organizations to help contain the outbreak.