North Korea’s COVID‑19 Fight: A Roller Coaster with a Surprise Twist
On Tuesday, May 24, the Kim‑dom’s news agency KCNA announced that its latest pandemic wave is slowing down. Less than 200,000 new fevers were reported for the third day in a row—totaling 2.95 million fever cases since the late‑April outbreak, with 68 deaths to date.
Why the Lower Numbers Matter
- Emergency measures kicked in: Once the high‑level epidemic system was activated, “nation‑wide morbidity and mortality rates have drastically decreased,” KCNA said.
- Recovery on the rise: More people are bouncing back, effectively putting the spread under control.
- But testing remains scarce—the country reports only feverish individuals, not confirmed positive tests, muddying the true size of the wave.
What’s Going On Inside the Country
The regime is reportedly ramping up production of essential medicines, though no specific details were disclosed. Military medics are out in the field, handing out drugs and doing “exams.” Food and medicine distribution is being carried out across the nation.
International Help? Not So Far Yet
South Korea and the United States have floated offers of vaccines and assistance, yet Pyongyang has stayed quiet on the matter.
In a nutshell
North Korea’s fight against COVID‑19 is a mix of cautious optimism and persistent uncertainty. While the numbers show a favorable trend, limited testing and infrastructure mean the real picture remains sketchy. One can hope the international community can help close those gaps—until then, we’ll keep watching the story unfold with a dash of curiosity and a pinch of humor.
