North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency and a lockdown in a border town after a person suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus returned from South Korea after illegally crossing the border, state media said on Sunday.
If confirmed, it would be the first case officially acknowledged by North Korean authorities.
Kim convened an emergency politburo meeting in response to what he called a "critical situation in which the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country", the North's KCNA state news reported.
A person who defected to South Korea three years ago returned across the fortified border that divides the two Koreas to the town of Kaesong this month with symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, KCNA reported.
"An emergency event happened in Kaesong City where a runaway who went to the south three years ago, a person who is suspected to have been infected with the vicious virus returned on July 19 after illegally crossing the demarcation line," KCNA said.
KCNA did not say if the person had been tested, but said an "uncertain result was made from several medical check-ups of the secretion of that person's upper respiratory organ and blood", prompting officials to quarantine the person and investigate anyone he may have been in contact with.
One analyst said the announcement was important, not only because North Korea was for the first time reporting a suspected coronavirus case but also because it suggested it was appealing for help.
"It's an ice-breaking moment for North Korea to admit a case," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor at Kyung Hee University.
"It could be reaching out to the world for help. Perhaps for humanitarian assistance."
North Korea is under economic pressure because of international sanctions over its nuclear programme.
'DIRE SITUATION'
Cho Han-bum, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said it was significant that North Korea was reporting its first suspected coronavirus case was imported.
"North Korea is in such a dire situation, where they can't even finish building the Pyongyang General Hospital on time. Pointing the blame at an 'imported case' from South Korea, the North can use this as a way to openly accept aid from the South," Cho said.
KCNA did not elaborate on how the unidentified "runaway" had crossed one of the world's most heavily guarded borders but said the incident was being investigated and the military unit responsible would face "severe punishment".
The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said there was a "high chance" that someone had indeed crossed and the military was checking surveillance footage. It even suggested it might be able to identify the person.
"Our military has specified some people and is verifying facts in close collaboration with related agencies," the JCS said.
North Korea has received thousands of coronavirus testing kits from Russia and other countries and imposed strict border closures.
Thousands of people in North Korea were also quarantined as it took precautions to prevent a coronavirus outbreak but restrictions had recently been eased.
Reuters
Mon Jul 27 2020
![North Korea declares emergency in border town over first suspected COVID-19 case North Korea declares emergency in border town over first suspected COVID-19 case](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-07/61595721777_KimJongUn.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un holds an emergency enlarged meeting of Political Bureau of WPK Central Committee in this undated photo released on July 25, 2020 by North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang. KCNA via REUTERS
[Data & Statistik] Prestasi ringgit setakat 17 Julai 2024
Ketua Ekonomi Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid berkata tumpuan pasaran telah beralih ke arah pilihan raya presiden AS menjelang November nanti, yang menunjukkan kebimbangan terhadap Donald Trump berikutan dasar ekonominya yang akan memihak kepada pemotongan cukai dan pengenaan tarif terhadap China.
![Olimpik 2024: Mampukah Pearly-Thinaah cipta 'kemanisan' di Paris? Olimpik 2024: Mampukah Pearly-Thinaah cipta 'kemanisan' di Paris?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/41704813566_PearlyTandanThina.jpg)
Olimpik 2024: Mampukah Pearly-Thinaah cipta 'kemanisan' di Paris?
Penganalisis berpendapat sukar buat Pearly-Thinaah menjayakan misi emas pertama Malaysia pada penampilan sulung mereka.
Niaga AWANI: [Hutang kerajaan persekutuan meningkat] Cabaran antara jimat atau langkah rangsangan
Perdana Menteri pada Selasa umum hutang kerajaan persekutuan meningkat kepada RM1.22 trilion berbanding RM1.17 trilion. Apakah cabaran mengurus hutang ini untuk memasihkan ia kekal di bawah had statutori? Adakah dasar fikal kita masih utuh?
![Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721175184_Pemudaberatkgk.jpg)
Pemuda berat 183kg kini tinggal 99kg
Dia melalui episod kehidupan yang panjang untuk mendapatkan berat terkini.
![Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/81709006000_RINGGIT.jpg)
Minat risiko ketara, ringgit dibuka mengukuh berbanding dolar AS
Ringgit mengukuh sedikit berbanding dolar AS pada sesi awal urus niaga Rabu ketika minat terhadap risiko kembali ketara.
Jiwa SME: Sabun Pro One Active sasar perluas pasaran global
Sabun Pro One Active tidak menggunakan sebarang lemak haiwan dalam pembuatannya selain ia mesra pengguna dan alam lantaran ia bercirikan biochemical.
Niaga AWANI: Potensi sebenar AI Generatif dalam sektor kewangan
Kecerdasan Buatan Generatif (Generative AI) adalah teknologi yang semakin mendapat perhatian dalam sektor kewangan. Ia menawarkan potensi besar untuk meningkatkan produktiviti, kecekapan, dan ketepatan dalam pelbagai aspek perkhidmatan kewangan. Apakah langkah yang boleh diambil Malaysia untuk membina infrastruktur yang baik bagi menyokong penggunaan AI generatif dalam sektor kewangan?
![Bas terjunam ke dalam cerun ragut 23 nyawa di Peru Bas terjunam ke dalam cerun ragut 23 nyawa di Peru](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721173567_tbbusplummetsoffc.jpg)
Bas terjunam ke dalam cerun ragut 23 nyawa di Peru
Kemalangan itu berlaku di lebuh raya Los Libertadores di Ayacucho di selatan-tengah Andes.
Niaga AWANI: [Transisi tenaga] Cabaran besar menanti Malaysia
Fokus perubahan tenaga yang Malaysia mahu laksanakan hadir dengan cabaran yang besar dan memerlukan bukan sahaja iltizam politik, sebaliknya sistem utuh dan kerjasama pelabagai pihak khususnya sektor korporat.
AWANI Pagi: Keselamatan kebakaran dalam pemasangan panel solar atas bumbung
[LANGSUNG] Fokus #AWANIpagi 17 Julai 2024 8.30 pagi,
Diskusi 8.30 pagi Rabu bersama PgB Muhamad Zahin Ishak, Pegawai Cawangan Perakuan Keselamatan Kebakaran, Bahagian Keselamatan Kebakaran, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia membincangkan antaranya langkah-langkah keselamatan utama yang perlu diambil semasa pemasangan panel solar atas bumbung untuk mengurangkan risiko kebakaran.
Diskusi 8.30 pagi Rabu bersama PgB Muhamad Zahin Ishak, Pegawai Cawangan Perakuan Keselamatan Kebakaran, Bahagian Keselamatan Kebakaran, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia membincangkan antaranya langkah-langkah keselamatan utama yang perlu diambil semasa pemasangan panel solar atas bumbung untuk mengurangkan risiko kebakaran.