Zero infection is questionable? There are doubts that North Korea has already had cases of infectious diseases but has not detected.

Some South Korean experts said in an interview that North Korea, as a country with a high lying and relatively large population of young people, has a real role to play in combating the virus through its characteristics and the stringent measures taken by its authorities.
, however, the claim of zero infection in North Korea is seriously questionable. "As far as North Korea is concerned, the ageing population is much lower than in Japan and South Korea, so the damage caused by the new coronavirus is likely to be less," said Nan Jinhe, an expert on inter-Korean co-operation at
's Kyungnam University.
and North Korea's initial opportunities for citizens to move freely across the country are limited, and the government's strict controls on the population could play a positive role and help prevent the virus from entering.
" Nan Jinhe said north Korea's claim that there had been no cases of new crown virus infection in the country was highly questionable, despite "severe control measures".
this behavior is intended to prove Kim Jong-un's success as leader and can play a role in the future, attracting large numbers of tourists to the country.
", Nan Jinh added: "There is a very high probability of a new crown virus infection in Pyongyang."
because usually all foreign logistics and tourists travel to Pyongyang, which greatly increases the likelihood of the new crown virus entering Pyongyang. Park Chung-chul, an expert on North Korea relations at Qingshan University in
, said North Korea may now find it difficult to identify patients with sinopherpneumonia, even without considering the possibility of withholding data on the number of infected people. "We are in contact with North Korea and China, but no one knows the exact situation in North Korea right now," he said.

is now the annual flu season and the new coronavirus needs to be tested, but given that North Korea does not have a detection system, it is not possible to determine whether it is a simple flu or a new coronavirus.
Although the new coronavirus has a higher mortality and transmission capacity, the prevention of the new coronavirus is actually the same as that of influenza.
, as a result, North Korea is now at high risk.
", North Korea actually purchased 1,500 kits from Russia on February 28, according to South Korea's Central Daily reported on February 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on the 26th, "after receiving North Korea's invitation, Russia has sent 1,500 (new coronavirus) rapid diagnostic kits to Pyongyang", and said that "hopefully this will help North Korea effectively prevent the introduction of infectious diseases."
reported that although Russia said the aid kit to North Korea is in response to North Korea's request, but did not disclose the specific time and channel of aid.
North Korea has closed its border with China and Russia since mid-January, canceled all flights and adopted a "blockade" policy.
so far, North Korea has not reported a confirmed case.
North Korea has declared a state of emergency and epidemic prevention on January 30, and has stepped up its anti-epidemic measures, taking comprehensive quarantine measures at border crossings, ports and airports, and extending the quarantine period in North Korea to 30 days in order to prevent and control the new outbreak of coronavirus infection, KCNA reported earlier.
Yonhap news agency quoted North Korea's Central Radio reported on the 27th, North Korea's various schools at all levels have postponed the opening of the school, but did not mention the specific opening date.
reported that Kim Jong-un did not return to Pyongyang immediately after watching the March 12 artillery drills, sparking rumors that the situation in the North Korean capital's new crown could spiral out of control.
, Kim Jong-un launched the construction of a modern general hospital in central Pyongyang on March 17, the first time in two months that kim jong-un has seen a large number of participants in a public event. Kim Dong-pu, a professor at the Institute of Far East Studies at
's Qingnan University, said the construction of the general hospital was directly related to the spread of the new coronavirus in North Korea. "I suspect that someone in Pyongyang was infected long before North Korea closed its borders at the end of January, " said Kim Dong-pu,
.
that's why North Korea is in dire need of hospitals.
If north Korea does not respond well to the spread of the new crown virus, North Korea is unlikely to agree to cooperate in the fight against the virus, according to the professor.
"North Korea's various schools at all levels to extend the winter vacation to delay the start of the new crown epidemic According to the Korean Workers' Party Central Organ newspaper "Labor News" reported on the 28th, in order to prevent the outbreak of new crown pneumonia, north Korean schools at all levels will extend the winter vacation time, delay the start of school, but did not mention the specific start date.
Source: Southern Plus.