{"id":4460,"date":"2020-01-30T17:18:04","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T08:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4460"},"modified":"2022-05-16T18:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T09:01:10","slug":"coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/01\/recommendations\/coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cLatest Report from N. Korea\uff1e Regime Aims to Block Coronavirus at Border as Local Hospitals and Populace Remain Woefully Unprepared for Potential Outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo) A boy carries a sack and wanders around a market. There are many similarly impoverished people with poor hygiene. Photographed in Pyongsong, South Pyongan Province in September, 2013 by ASIAPRESS<\/p><\/div>\n

The North Korean authorities have announced through state media that the transmission of the deadly new coronavirus has spread from China to Japan, South Korea, and the United States.<\/p>\n

The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers\u2019 Party of Korea, claimed on January 28 that authorities are taking \u201cemergency measures in the health sector.\u201d Though what is the reality inside North Korea?<\/p>\n

Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, is situated on the border with China and is connected by bridge to the Chinese town of Changbai, Jilin Province. A reporting parting living in Hyesan, gathered information on January 27 and 28, and explained the domestic situation as following:<\/p>\n

\u201cTelevision announcements are emphasizing the need to wash hands and wear masks. But there are no health officers going around the community to explain the dangers of the virus or give instructions on preventing infection. All that we have been told is to go to the hospital if we have a fever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another reporting partner in Hyesan City was quite shocked upon hearing the severe effects of the coronavirus, asking, \u201cIs the virus really fatal? Are there many dead in China?\u201d The reporting partner was also unaware of the strict control of movement put in place by the Chinese state to quarantine the virus.<\/p>\n

The bridge across the border between Hyesan City and Changbai appears to be completely blocked. The reporting partner explained, \u201cOnly those who were on business trips in Changbai were permitted to return to North Korea. Chinese nationals are being blocked from entering the country. At this point, though, the movement of North Korean citizens inside the country is not being particularly controlled.\u201d
\nNext page :Rumors spread of infected people\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6 Rumors spread of infected people, though populace are too poor to buy masks<\/h2>\n

Meanwhile, rumors appear to be circulating that the coronavirus has already spread to North Korea.<\/p>\n

The first reporting partner said, \u201cThere are rumors of infected people but we have yet to hear of any patients being quarantined. If you go to the hospital now, all that you can be prescribed is cold medicine. As the country\u2019s medical infrastructure is under-developed, doctors are not even able to run the proper tests to distinguish if a patient has the coronavirus or the common cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reporting partner went on, \u201cThe TV announcements are telling us to wear masks but maybe only 1 in 10 people are actually doing so. Although Chinese masks are sold in the markets, each one costs 5 RMB, with good ones costing up to 12 yuan (1 RMB is equivalent to 169 S. Korean won). A kilogram of rice costs 3.6 yuan, so citizens don\u2019t want to spend money on expensive masks. It\u2019s not that masks are in short supply.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Kim Jong-un regime is focused on preventing the coronavirus from spreading into North Korea. On the other hand, the authorities seem to be making no effort to inform the public about prevention measures. According to reporting partners, North Korean hospitals appear to have no capabilities for diagnosing or treating patients. In addition, there is the danger that infected citizens will not report their symptoms for fear of being quarantined.<\/p>\n

If the government takes no steps to publicize information about the virus, there is a possibility of the infection spreading across the country and causing mass panic as it did in China. (Kang Ji-won)<\/p>\n

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Map of the Chinese-North Korean border region (produced by ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

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