“Of course. Basically, it will be the line of the Ministry of Unification (I will)”
President Yun Seok-yeol answered this question to a question regarding the possibility of a working-level contact offer to support North Korea for a vaccine once morest the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) during a visit to the press office of the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul on the 13th. As President Yoon announced that he would directly discuss vaccine support with North Korea, there are also observations that it might open the door for inter-Korean dialogue from the beginning of the new government.
The presidential office strongly condemned the North Korean ballistic missile launch the day before (12th), calling it a “serious provocation”, but seems to be considering a “two-track” strategy that humanitarian aid is possible apart from military provocations. However, additional provocations, such as the imminent North Korean nuclear test, are expected to be a factor.
○ North Korea reveals Corona 19 situation in detail
North Korea announced on the previous day that 18,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported across the country. The Rodong Sinmun reported that 350,000 people have accumulated fever and 187,800 people are in quarantine and treatment. According to the newspaper, there were six deaths, and one of them had Omicron virus. It is the first time that North Korea has disclosed in detail the current status of the spread of COVID-19. Experts pointed to the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army on the 25th of last month as the epicenter of the spread of COVID-19 in North Korea. Jeong Seong-jang, head of the North Korean Research Center at the Sejong Institute, analyzed, “The fact that the Omicron virus has spread in neighboring China, and that North Korea held a military parade attended by a large crowd is an overconfidence in its quarantine capabilities.”
Some analysts say that North Korea released the current state of the spread of Corona 19 to the Rodong Sinmun to calm the complaints of the residents regarding the sudden all-out lockdown. Radio Free Asia (RFA) quoted a source from Pyongyang residents on the same day, saying, “Some residents are complaining, ‘If you don’t come out of your house without any countermeasures in the country, you’re saying you should sit at home and die of starvation.'” John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine at Cornell University School of Medicine, told the Washington Post, “If North Korea does not limit transmission through containment, a very high percentage of its population will soon become infected.” It can cause human casualties to the extent that it affects the power of the regime to seize power,” he said.
Some analysts believe that President Yun’s message today is because he was informed of this situation from North Korea. A high-ranking official at the presidential office said, “The situation in North Korea is not simple. It’s more serious than I thought.”
However, it is unclear whether North Korea will accept the offer of support from President Yun or the international community. The Chosun Shinbo, the newspaper of the Chongryon, said on the same day, “(North Korea) has fully equipped the necessary means to strengthen the quarantine. said He also expressed his will to ‘self-reliance’ in quarantine. White House press secretary Jen Saki said on the 12th (local time) that “North Korea has repeatedly rejected an offer to donate a vaccine to Kovax.”
○ North Korea continues to prepare for nuclear test
Despite the spread of COVID-19, North Korea continues to prepare for a nuclear test. 38 North, a North Korean media outlet, reported that new structures were built around the entrance to Tunnel 3 of North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site as a result of analyzing satellite images of Airbus on the 10th. These structures are intended to improve the durability of Tunnel 3, and are facilities for installing devices that provide air supply, ventilation, electricity and power supply inside the tunnel, the media reported. Regarding the possibility of North Korea’s ‘seventh nuclear test’ on the same day, a high-ranking official at the presidential office said, “It seems that preparations are being made for a nuclear test. However, I think there is a possibility of testing various types of missiles before conducting a nuclear test,” he said.
By Choi Ji-seon, staff reporter aurinko@donga.com
New York = Correspondent Yoo Jae-dong jarrett@donga.com
Reporter Shin Ah-hyung abro@donga.com
