{"id":4525,"date":"2020-04-10T17:46:26","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T08:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4525"},"modified":"2022-05-16T18:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T09:01:10","slug":"chongjin-corona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/04\/recommendations\/chongjin-corona\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e \u201cDead In Their Homes\u201d: Possibility of Coronavirus Outbreak in Chongjin City amid Mounting Number of Untested, \u201cMisdiagnosed\u201d Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A woman washes clothes by the Yalu River. Rivers are also used for drinking water. In general, North Korea\u2019s sanitary conditions are poor. Photographed from the Chinese side in July 2017 by ASIAPRESS<\/p><\/div>\n

The Kim Jong-un regime, as of April 5, has continued to make claims of \u201czero coronavirus infections.\u201d Meanwhile, there are rumors circulating within the country and headlines written in South Korean media of \u201cinfections and deaths in the North.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since news of the outbreak in Wuhan in January, ASIAPRESS has been collecting information from reporting partners in North Pyongan Province, North Hamkyung Province, Ryanggang Province, and Pyongyang.<\/p>\n

Rumors of \u201cinfectious outbreaks\u201d have been widespread, but no solid information could be found. This may have been a result of the regime\u2019s prevention measures, however, it is more commonly believed to be due to a lack of testing kits and equipment, particularly in the regional cities.<\/p>\n

In late March, a reporting partner living in North Hamkyung Province conducted an investigation in Rason and Chongjin, North Korea\u2019s third largest city. The findings of the investigation raised doubts over the regime\u2019s claims of \u201czero infections.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reporting partner explained, \u201cIn February, more and more people were said to be showing symptoms, such as coughing and a high fever. Particularly in the Pohang District and Sunam area of Chongjin City. Hospitals and clinics, however, would only diagnose these patients with tuberculosis, bronchitis, or a cold, and prescribe them fever reducers or cold medicines. No other measures were taken.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to a number of acquaintances living in apartments in downtown Chongjin, a number of people have died in their homes due to contagious diseases and many appear to have \u201cdied due to the coronavirus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u25c6 An \u201cinvasion\u201d through North Korea\u2019s Chinese trade hub, Rason?<\/h2>\n

North of Chongjin City is the city of Rason, a special economic zone. It is the country\u2019s largest trading hub with China and the only city in the country which allows Chinese vehicles to enter across the border. The next most popular city for Chinese businessmen and tourists to visit is Sinuiju in the west of the country. Exact numbers are not known, but it is estimated that tens of thousands of visitors come to Rason each year.<\/p>\n

Rason City, as a special economic zone, is strictly separated from other regions by barbed wire. A permit is required to enter and exit from other areas.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the possibility of an outbreak in Chongjin City, the reporting partner said, \u201cAt the end of January, when the Chinese border was sealed, all those who had been in contact with Chinese people in Rason were put under quarantine. As the entrance to Rason from Chongjin City in Huchang was sealed, people could not enter Rason. However, it was possible to leave Rason to go to Chongjin and distributions were also not stopped. I don\u2019t know the situation in Rason but the rumors of an outbreak there are constant. I think the virus could very well have been spread by someone returning from Rason to Chongjin sometime between late January and early February.\u201d
\nNext page :The current situation in Chongjin City...<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Map of North Korea (Produced by ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 The current situation in Chongjin City<\/h2>\n

The following is a summary of the reporting partner\u2019s investigation in Chongjin City:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Currently, Chongjin City\u2019s hospital and People\u2019s Committee (local government) have not confirmed an outbreak of the coronavirus in the city. Though the medical institutions are not testing for the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The number of patients with coughs, colds, and fevers are increasing. Of those patients, many begin to suspect that they have caught the coronavirus if they do not recover after taking medicine. The authorities are quarantining people with high fevers, issuing them certificates for them to take medical leave.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Merchants at the markets are required to wear masks. Residents are restricted from moving to other areas, but there are no other special regulations or measures. Rumors are circulating that markets are likely to be banned from selling food.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The number of staff for each of the quarantine stations in downtown Chongjin was increased by 50%. The quarantine officers are not wearing protective clothing to prevent infection. Instead, they wear uniforms of white cloth and only have a mask for protection. Due to a lack of disinfectants, communal toilets and other places are sprayed with saltwater, employing equipment used normally for spraying pesticide.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Events have been suspended and orders have been given blocking groups of people from gathering. However, attendance at self-criticism meetings and ideological study sessions (held once a week at workplaces and other institutions) is strictly mandatory, though people are required to wear masks. At local government offices, party-affiliated organizations, and businesses, there are medical check-ups every other day, though officials only take people\u2019s temperatures.<\/p>\n

Had it needed to, North Korea would probably not have been able to develop its own coronavirus infection test kits. Fortunately for the country, Russia came to its aid in late February, announcing a shipment of 1,500 test kits. Though no announcement was made, it is likely that China also provided support. Meanwhile, quarantine supplies and other such aid from UNICEF and international NGOs was delayed and only reached the country in late March. Now that such deliveries have been made, it remains to be seen whether the country will finally launch full-scale testing. (Kang Ji-won\/ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS contacts reporting partners in North Korea through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.<\/p>\n

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