{"id":4503,"date":"2020-03-23T10:06:52","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T01:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4503"},"modified":"2022-05-16T18:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T09:01:10","slug":"coronavirus-test-kits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/03\/recommendations\/coronavirus-test-kits\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e Field Testing: Regime Releases Thousands From Quarantine for Farming Season, Days Before Receiving Coronavirus Test Kits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kim Jong-un began to make appearances in public towards the end of February. This photograph, originally published by the Rodong Sinmun on March 3, 2020, was taken during his inspection of long-range artillery drills.<\/p><\/div>\n

According to reporting partners in North Korea, people who had been placed under quarantine in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus are now being released and returned to their homes.<\/p>\n

A reporting partner living in Musan County, North Hamkyung Province, gave the following report on March 13.<\/p>\n

\u201cCustoms officials who had been in contact with foreigners, as well as those who had been in contact with the customs officials, had all been in quarantine until their release on February 20. While disinfection work continues at offices and homes, tensions are easing little-by-little with the news that the situation in China has stabilized. Traffic at markets has also increased slightly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another reporting partner, living in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, said on March 13, \u201cAll trade officials in quarantine were released at the end of February. The quarantine period was said to have been 30 days. The employees who had been quarantined separately at work are now returning as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

North Korea\u2019s state media reported on March 1 that 7,000 people in the northern part of North Pyongan Province were placed under \u201cmedical surveillance.\u201d This meant forced isolation. It was also reported on, March 8, that 3,650 people across the country were under quarantine.<\/p>\n

Though this figure cannot be confirmed, ASIAPRESS has undertaken surveys within the country to determine how many citizens have been released from quarantine.<\/p>\n

\u25c6 Amid signs of normalization, residents face serious poverty<\/h2>\n

Another reporting partner, living in the north of the country, chose to investigate conditions on a cooperative farm and reported as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone was trying to figure out what would happen due to the coronavirus situation, but annual directions for the sowing season came from the city as usual- they are planning to conduct a \u2018farming mobilization.\u2019 We are also gathering human excrement for compost.\u201d<\/p>\n

A huge population of North Koreans are expected to travel across the country for the annual \u201cfarming mobilization.\u201d This migration will bring an increased risk of spreading the coronavirus. Compost, created with human excrement, will also pose an increased risk of infection.<\/p>\n

However, there seems to be regional differences in preparation for the \u201cfarming mobilization\u201d and compost gathering. Some parts of North Pyongan Province have stopped collecting compost, according to reporting partners. In addition, there seems to be differences in terms of each region\u2019s vigilance against and promoted countermeasures for the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

In any case, it can be assumed that the Kim Jong-un regime has decided to release citizens from quarantine and allow for the upcoming \u201cfarming mobilization\u201d due to a certain amount of confidence in its ability to prevent an outbreak.<\/p>\n

Since the blockade at the Chinese border was put into place a month and a half ago, there has been a serious impact on the lives of residents. With trade completely cut off, the prices of Chinese goods have soared and markets have experienced a major slump.<\/p>\n

The reporting partner living in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, lamented the rising level of poverty, complaining, \u201cWorkers say they will more quickly starve to death than die from the coronavirus. I hope the Chinese border will be opened as soon as possible.\u201d
\nNext page :No coronavirus test kits at regional hospitals...<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6 No coronavirus test kits at regional hospitals<\/h2>\n

The next task for the regime will likely be to prevent a secondary spread of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

Coronavirus testing kits are expected to finally be delivered to North Korea in the third week of March by the International Red Cross, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders. As North Korea had sealed its borders entirely, there was previously no prospect for their delivery.<\/p>\n

As of March 17, the North Korean government continues to announce that there have been \u201czero infections.\u201d It is more likely, however, that there was simply no way for North Korea to test for infections from the beginning.<\/p>\n

Although ASIAPRESS reporting partners were able to make in-person visits to hospitals and speak to quarantine officials in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, and in Musan County and Hoeryong City in North Hamkyung Province, their investigations yielded no information on the reality of the coronavirus situation.<\/p>\n

Reporting partners claim that, since January, \u201cPatients are simply prescribed cold medicine to buy at the pharmacy if they have a cough or fever. Beyond that, there have only been orders given to wear masks.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, if there is even a small number of infected people within the country, it will be difficult to avoid an outbreak or identify the path of the spreading infection. This has been made clear from the experiences of China and other countries. The relatively small number of infections reported from Taiwan is said to be due to the government cutting off travel to and from China in the early stages, as well as efficient screening of the population and effective information-sharing. North Korea, though, has been anything but transparent, refusing to release any information at all.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s Foreign Ministry announced on February 26 that it had donated 1,500 coronavirus test kits at the request of North Korea. It is also possible that the Chinese authorities have already sent test kits as well.<\/p>\n

So, where will the North Korean authorities begin to use its limited number of test kits? The first place is, of course, Pyongyang. Those to receive test kits will be Kim Jong-un and the powerful core around him, as well as institutions with strong foreign ties such as trade agencies, and certain medical institutions with privileged patients. Next to receive kits will be those in Sinuiju, the country\u2019s window to China, and members of the military.<\/p>\n

Until now, coronavirus testing could only be conducted in very few regions and by few institutions. If testing kits are received from international aid groups this week, however, the authorities can finally move on to the next phase of screening at the border, identifying the infection\u2019s path, and managing \u201cclusters.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other words, the North Korean authorities will finally become aware of the reality of the situation within the country. Depending on the authorities\u2019 next move, following the procurement of testing kits, the outside world may be able to guess whether the coronavirus has made it into North Korea and, if so, the extent to which it has spread. However, the Kim Jong-un regime will likely hold onto its claims of \u201czero infections.\u201d (Kang Ji-won\/ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS contacts reporting partners in North Korea through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.<\/p>\n

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