North Korea reports 6 additional deaths amid COVID

People watch a TV screen at a train station in Seoul showing a news report about the COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea, May 14. The North reported six additional deaths Tuesday amid a surge in suspected infections. AP-Yonhap

Military mobilized for drug supply

North Korea reported six additional deaths Tuesday amid a surge in suspected COVID-19 cases, as it deployed its military to supply medicine to pharmacies in Pyongyang.

According to information from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters, over 269,510 people showed symptoms of fever and six deaths were reported as of 6 p.m. Monday, raising the total number of fatalities to 56 amid the epidemic, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The North has stepped up efforts to immediately fix "deviations" in the supply of medicine and mobilized its military to stabilize supplies in the capital as ordered by leader Kim Jong-un earlier this week.

"On the special orders of the WPK Central Military Commission, the military medical field of the People's Army urgently deployed its powerful forces to all pharmacies in Pyongyang City and began to supply medicines under the 24-hour service system," the KCNA said. WPK refers to the North's powerful ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

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Top party officials, including Choe Ryong-hae, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Premier Kim Tok-hun visited pharmacies in several districts to check on the demand and supply of medicine.

Officials from the Cabinet and leading officials across the country helped transport the medicine to pharmacies and clinics, and took measures to "eliminate unfairness" in supplying medicine in cities and even in "far-flung villages in northern mountainous areas and areas along the demarcation line."

Pharmaceutical factories across the country have increased their production and some 11,000 officials, teachers and students of medical institutions across the country have been mobilized to examine and treat people with fever symptoms, the KCNA said.

The total number of "fever cases" stood at more than 1.48 million as of 6 p.m. Monday, of which more than 819,090 had fully recovered and at least 663,910 were being treated.

Last Thursday, North Korea reported its first COVID-19 case after claiming to be coronavirus-free for over two years. In response, Pyongyang declared the implementation of a "maximum emergency" virus control system. (Yonhap)