The North Korean regime, which claims that the country is one of only a few in the world without coronavirus cases, is reportedly asking for help with testing.
Officials in the hermit nation have been quietly reaching out to the international community for assistance, with sources telling the Financial Times that the country is asking for help from a variety of groups.
“The government has testing kits for COVID-19, and they know how to use them, but [the number of kits is] not sufficient, hence [officials are] requesting all organizations … to support them in this regard,” one source familiar with the situation said.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has consistently pushed back on the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the international community by pursuing a national nuclear program. The program has resulted in powerful sanctions.
International groups have reportedly worked to obtain U.N. sanctions waivers to allow shipments to the country. Michelle Bachelet, U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said that there should be “flexible authorization for essential medical equipment and supplies.”
“It is vital to avoid the collapse of any country’s medical system, given the explosive impact that will have on death, suffering, and wider contagion,” she said.
North Korea has shown no signs of slowing its military posturing despite the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. As recently as last weekend, the country test-fired short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, a move that the South Korean military called a “greatly inappropriate act.”
As of Thursday evening, there have been more than 526,000 worldwide cases of the COVID-19 virus, about 122,000 recoveries, and at least 23,700 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
