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WORLD
North Korea's Covid outbreak was only a matter of time
North Korea has ordered   nationwide lockdowns and ramped up the distribution of medicines to fight a growing coronavirus outbreak that is hitting its entirely unvaccinated population.
The country's poor healthcare system is buckling as it battles its first Covid outbreak, with leader Kim Jong-Un saying it has caused “great upheaval”.
Video: Reuters
Cases skyrocket
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Tuesday more than 1.48 million cases of “fever” had been reported.   At least 663,910 people were under medical treatment.
Video: Reuters
The nation has maintained a rigid coronavirus blockade since 2020, but experts have warned massive Omicron outbreaks in nearby countries meant it was inevitable Covid would get in.
When Pyongyang sealed its borders two years ago, shutting down trade, even issuing shoot-to-kill orders for anyone illegally crossing from China, it didn't use the time to drive vaccination.
Vulnerable population
Video: Reuters
It has no vaccines and a zero per cent vaccination rate. Hospitals are poorly-equipped with few intensive care units, and no Covid treatment drugs or mass testing ability, experts say.
It has also rejected offers for millions of doses of vaccines from the WHO-led Covax program. Continuing on such a path could cost thousands of lives.
“
Lina Yoon, Senior Korea researcher at Human Rights Watch 
Most North Koreans are chronically malnourished and unvaccinated, there are barely any medicines left in the country, and the health infrastructure is incapable to deal with this pandemic. 
Mr Kim has ordered nationwide lockdowns and deployed the military in Pyongyang City, the centre of the outbreak, to ramp up the supply of medicines.
Military response
Video: Reuters
Authorities have stepped up media awareness campaigns and pharmaceutical factories have increased the production of medicines, KCNA reported.
Video: Reuters
Mr Kim has criticised officials over the nation's pandemic response, flagging "several negative phenomena in the handling and sale of medicines".
Botched response
“
KCNA MEDIA REPORT 
The failure to distribute medicine properly was because officials of the Cabinet and public health sector in charge of the supply have not rolled up their sleeves, not properly recognising the present crisis.
South Korea’s new president Yoon Suk-yeol has taken a hawkish stance on his nuclear-armed neighbour, but has said he would “not hold back” on aid - if Pyongyang accepts.

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