North Korean leader Kim Jong Un replaced several senior officials after a ‘grave’ coronavirus incident on Wednesday, signalling speculation that the coronavirus may have breached the nation’s borders. North Korea had shut its borders in January 2020 and has maintained that they haven’t had a single case of the virus. Any COVID-19 cases haven’t been confirmed in the state media or reported to the World Health Organisation.
According to a report by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a ‘crucial’ incident due to neglect in duty by officers has led to a “great crisis in ensuring the security of the state and safety of the people and entailed grave consequences.” Details of what transpired weren’t mentioned. But the leader Jong-Un said at a politburo accused the officers of “self-protectionism and passiveness”.
According to analysts, the latest development is an indication that there had been COVID-19 cases in the isolated nation, which is currently reeling under an acute food shortage.
Kim Jong Un, in the recent past, has thanked his people for remaining vigilant and preventing any cases of the virus. But shutting its borders has taken a heavy toll on its economy. It has affected its trade with China, which is a major part of its economic lifeline. UN relief groups have reported that the country needs humanitarian aid.
