Kim Jong Un Criticizes North Korea’s Feeble COVID‑19 Response
North Korea, a country that tends to keep its inner workings close to the chest, has suddenly pushed a full‑blown fever storm onto the world stage. In a meeting that seems more dramatic than a reality‑TV show, the nation’s stickler for order, Kim Jong Un, tore into his government for what he called a “broad‑mouthed, immature” approach to the virus. The leader blasted officials for slippages and a sluggish reaction that, according to him, only made the crisis harder to tackle.
Fever Figures Keep Heaping Up
- North Korea added 232,880 more people with fever symptoms on May 18.
- There were six additional deaths the same day.
- The country didn’t reveal how many of those caught the virus.
Since the first confirmation of COVID‑19 in the country, officials report that a staggering 1.72 million people have shown fever symptoms, and a total of 62 people have died. If you’re wondering, that’s roughly a quarter of the population on the upper end of the spectrum—just a tiny fraction of the country’s around 8.7 million residents.
“Immaturity in State Capacity”
Kim’s main gripe? A lack of maturity in the state’s ability to handle the pandemic. He said the situation “became more complex and harder” because of this. “Time is life,” he quipped, making it sound like an urgent emergency meeting, not a political rumble from the top.
The “Best” Treatment Guide—Or At Least An Attempt
In response to growing concerns over shortages of vaccines and basic medical supplies, North Korean health officials rolled out a Covid‑19 treatment guide. The guide’s key points include:
- Customized treatment plans for different patient groups.
- An emphasis on avoiding drug overdoses or other mishandled treatments.
Unfortunately, the government didn’t reveal the name of the medications within the guide. It sounds like a “secret sauce” recipe that never got published—maybe a staple for future papers about “what could have been” rather than what actually worked.
Putting the Humor Into a Dark Situation
Even though the situation sounds scary, some readers might find it oddly fascinating that a one‑way state is after all trying new “home remedies.” With a population that would normally lean more towards making soup as a default treat than a cure, it’s a peculiar twist in a vaccine‑starved environment.
In summary, Kim Jong Un’s latest rant may not immediately produce instant relief, but it confirms that North Korea’s political machinery is still capable of throwing a real‑time crisis into the spotlight. Perhaps if the “immaturity” in state capacity gets addressed, the pandemic will finally be on its way out—along with a few stories of humor, humanity, and the ingenuity of folks who can’t wait to move on by simply “doing what worked.”
