SEOUL: Leader Kim Jong Un has ordered North Korea's military to stabilise distribution of COVID-19 medicine in the capital, Pyongyang, in the battle against the country's first confirmed outbreak of the disease, state media said.
Last week brought the North's first acknowledgment of an "explosive" outbreak, with experts warning it could devastate a country with limited medical supplies and no vaccine programme.
Drugs procured by the state were not reaching people quickly or accurately, Kim told an emergency politburo meeting on Sunday, before visiting pharmacies near the capital's Taedong River, state news agency KCNA said.
Kim ordered immediate deployment of the "powerful forces" of the army's medical corps to "stabilise the supply of medicines in Pyongyang City", it added.
Although authorities had ordered distribution of national reserves of medicine, pharmacies were not well-equipped to perform their functions smoothly, Kim added, the agency said.
Among shortcomings were a lack of adequate drug storage, salespeople unequipped with the proper sanitary clothing and hygiene falling short of standards, Kim said.
He criticised the "irresponsible" work attitude, organisation and execution by the cabinet and the public health sector, it added.
Without a national vaccination campaign and COVID treatment, state media have encouraged patients to use painkillers and antibiotics as well as unverified home remedies, such as gargling salt water, or drinking lonicera japonica tea or willow leaf tea.
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
Seoul's unification ministry, responsible for cross-border relations, said it had proposed working-level talks to provide medical supplies, including vaccines, masks and test kits, as well as technical cooperation, but that the North had not acknowledged its message.
The offer came shortly after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said he would spare no effort to help the North fight its outbreak, saying it was ready to provide COVID-19 vaccines and other medical support.
Yoon said he would send humanitarian aid without political considerations, while expressing concerns over the North's recent missile launches and signs of preparations for what would be its first nuclear test since 2017.
"If North Korea responds, I would not hold back any necessary support for medicines including COVID vaccines, medical equipment and health personnel," he said in a speech to parliament.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the virus may spread rapidly in North Korea, citing the lack of vaccination programmes, but it had yet to receive information about the outbreak directly from local authorities.
The body's 194 members, including North Korea, are obliged to report a public health emergency within 24 hours once a COVID outbreak arises, though there were no penalties for non-compliance.
"With the country yet to initiate COVID-19 vaccination, there is risk that the virus may spread rapidly among the masses unless curtailed with immediate and appropriate measures," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO's regional director for South-East Asia, in a statement.
North Korea's tally of the fever-stricken stood at 1,213,550, with 50 deaths by Sunday, after KCNA reported 392,920 more cases of fever, and eight more deaths. It did not say how many suspected infections had tested positive for COVID-19.
The North has blamed a large number of the deaths on people who were "careless in taking drugs" because of a lack of knowledge about the Omicron variant of coronavirus and its correct treatment.
Reuters
Tue May 17 2022
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wears a face mask amid the COVID-19 outbreak while inspecting a pharmacy in Pyongyang, North Korea. - KCNA via REUTERS
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Tujuh individu dibawa ke mahkamah untuk reman
Tujuh individu yang dipercayai mempunyai kaitan dengan serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram dibawa ke Mahkamah Majistret Johor Bahru hari ini.
AWANI Pagi: Pameran Palet Budaya: Interaksi seni & Gastronomi
Makanan dan seni visual mungkin kedengaran agak janggal untuk disatukan, tetapi itulah keunikan Pameran Palet Budaya: Interaksi Seni & Gastronomi.
Ikuti bingkisan disediakan penyampai AWANI Pagi, Azib Zikry dalam membedah karya-karya unik, khazanah seni negara.
Ikuti bingkisan disediakan penyampai AWANI Pagi, Azib Zikry dalam membedah karya-karya unik, khazanah seni negara.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [18 Mei 2024]
Fokus Awani Pagi bersama Nursyazwani Saiful Sham & Azib Zikry;
Dua anggota polis maut diserang lelaki bertopeng di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram
Polis siasat ancaman Jemaah Islamiyah dalam negara
Sekitar Kapas Marang Swimathon 2024
Dua anggota polis maut diserang lelaki bertopeng di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram
Polis siasat ancaman Jemaah Islamiyah dalam negara
Sekitar Kapas Marang Swimathon 2024
Bukan tidak cakna gerakan 'Eyes On Rafah'... ini penjelasan Ning Baizura!
Ning Baizura nafi tidak sensitif mengenai situasi semasa di Palestin dan gerakan All Eyes On Rafah.
Seorang maut, lapan cedera serangan udara Israel di kem pelarian Jenin
Seorang penduduk Palestin terbunuh manakala lapan lagi cedera dalam serangan udara Israel ke atas kem pelarian Jenin di Tebing Barat yang diduduki pada Jumaat.
Serangan Balai Polis: Tujuh individu direman hari ini
Tujuh individu, termasuk lima ahli keluarga suspek, akan direman bagi membantu siasatan serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram. Dua anggota polis maut dalam kejadian tersebut.
Kita bersama wakil Astro AWANI Johor, Siti Nur Aqilla Omar, yang akan mengikuti liputan berkenaan hari ini.
Kita bersama wakil Astro AWANI Johor, Siti Nur Aqilla Omar, yang akan mengikuti liputan berkenaan hari ini.
AWANI Pagi: Kapas Marathon Crossing Swimathon 2024
Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu anjur kejohanan sukan renang marathon patuh syariah, yang pertama di Malaysia.
Sistem e-Jamin diteruskan
Kerajaan akan meneruskan penggunaan sistem pengurusan ikat jamin elektronik atau e-Jamin.
Israel pertahan hak serang Rafah di ICJ
Pasukan peguam Israel di ICJ menegaskan ia mempunyai hak mempertahankan diri dari Hamas, walaupun Afrika Selatan memohon hentikan serangan di Rafah.
Bantuan AS untuk Gaza tiba di Cyprus menanti pemindahan
White House mengesahkan bantuan tambahan AS untuk Gaza kini tiba di Cyprus, menunggu pemindahan melalui jeti sementara yang dibina di wilayah itu.
Korea Utara lancar lagi peluru berpandu jelajah
Korea Utara pada Ahad melancarkan beberapa peluru berpandu jelajah dari pantai timurnya, kata tentera Korea Selatan.
Korea Utara uji peluru berpandu krus strategik terbaharu
Pelancaran "Pulhwasal-3-31" sekali gus menandakan pelancaran peluru berpandu krus strategik terbaharu oleh Korea Utara sejak September tahun lalu.
Korea Utara uji peluru berpandu hipersonik bahan api pepejal
Pelancaran peluru berpandu pada Ahad tidak menimbulkan ancaman keselamatan kepada negara jiran, kata Korea Utara.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Bakal bertemu Putin, Kim Jong Un naiki kenderaan berperisai
Kim Jong Un dilaporkan telah memulakan perjalanan menuju ke Vladivostok untuk bertemu dengan Presiden Russia, Vladimir Putin.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Guna zon industri Kaesong, Seoul ancam ambil tindakan ke atas Pyongyang
Seoul akan mengambil langkah perlu jika Pyongyang terus menggunakan kilangnya di zon perindustrian bersama yang kini ditutup.
Korea Utara lancar dua peluru balistik jarak dekat ke arah laut timur
Korea Utara melancarkan dua peluru berpandu balistik jarak dekat (SRBM) ke arah Laut Timur pada Ahad.
Korea Utara dakwa ujian peluru berpandu untuk 'mempertahankan diri'
Korea Utara yang menerima kecaman susulan pelancaran peluru berpandu balistiknya, menegaskan langkah itu bertujuan "mempertahankan diri".
Kompaun RM250: Samakan Ipoh dengan Pyongyang, hanya pandangan peribadi kolumnis- Datuk Bandar
Tindakan kolumnis yang mempersoalkan kompaun dikenakan kepada premis yang gagal memasang Jalur Gemilang itu seperti menyalah tafsir fakta daripada sumber berita arus perdana.