North Korea claims to have identified the source of the COVID-19 outbreak: ‘Foreign object’ near the border with South Korea | World News
North Korea says it has identified the source of the COVID-19 outbreak – citizens touching “alien things” near the border with South Korea.
State media KCNA reported: “It is reported that an 18-year-old soldier surnamed Kim and a 5-year-old kindergarten student surnamed Wi were exposed to aliens in a hill around the barracks and residential area. settled in Iphori in early April. “
The couple developed symptoms and later tested positive for coronavirus.
Ipho-ri is located on the east coast near the border with Korea.
“The results of the investigation show that some people who came from the Ipho-ri area in the Kumgang district of Kangwon Province to the capital in mid-April had a fever, and the number of fever cases was witnessed among those in contact. with them,” KCNA added.
North Koreans were warned to “be on the lookout for extraterrestrials driven by wind and other climate phenomena and balloons in areas along the demarcation line and border”.
North Korean defectors and South Korean activists have flown balloons across the heavily guarded border carrying leaflets and humanitarian aid.
Pic: Kyodo
But this was blocked by the South Korean government in 2020, citing safety reasons, although critics say the move is aimed at improving relations with the North Korean government.
Meanwhile, North Korea says its COVID outbreak is easing, but it is difficult to judge this claim.
The reported lack of COVID tests means that North Korean health authorities are only reporting the number of people with fever symptoms, rather than confirming they have COVID.
On Friday, the nation said 4,570 more people had fever, with 4.74 million fever patients recorded since the end of April.
The country first confirmed the outbreak in May, stoking international concern about the vulnerability of an unvaccinated population struggling with massive food shortages.
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Several countries have offered aid, including vaccines and medical supplies, but the offer from the US provoked an angry response from the North Korean foreign ministry on Thursday.
The ministry said that the US was only providing the aid in an attempt to silence critics of its hostile policy towards North Korea.
According to North Korea, that hostility is reflected in military exercises and longstanding sanctions aimed at forcing Kim Jong-Un to cut off his nuclear program.
North Korea’s foreign ministry said that the US had failed to handle the COVID-19 crisis on its own and should abandon the “stupid” aid offer and focus on its own problems.
