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The influential sister of the North Korean leader today alerted the South Korean Foreign Minister about the possible consequences of the comments made by the Seoul chief of diplomacy on the situation of the pandemic in North Korea.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said over the weekend that it is hard to believe that North Korea has not been affected by the covid-19 pandemic, directly doubting Pyongyang’s messages from that it is not. there is only one case of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.
The South Korean minister added that North Korea has been indifferent to Seoul’s cooperation proposals in fighting the pandemic.
The doubts expressed by the South Korean foreign minister have been criticized by Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North Korean leader.
“All of this can be seen as reckless statements from [Kang Kyung-wha] that he did not think he could freeze relations between North and South Korea, “said Kim Jong-Un’s sister. in a text published by the Pyongyang (official) press.
“His intentions [da ministra da Coreia do Sul] it is empty. We will never forget his words and you may have to ‘pay’ for what he said, “added Kim Yo Jong.
The comments of the North Korean leader’s sister indicate the sensitivity with which North Korea sees the image that the country wants to reflect on the efforts it is making against the pandemic, with serious economic consequences.
The effects of a pandemic could trigger a humanitarian disaster in North Korea
Despite stating that there is not a single case of covid-19 in the country, the North Korean press has repeatedly reported that there is a “state of emergency” against the pandemic that has forced the closure of borders, expelled diplomats or isolated people. showing symptoms of the disease.
The closure of borders with the People’s Republic of China, the largest trading partner, is affecting South Korea’s fragile economy.
Pyongyang has indicated that it faces “multiple crises” due to the pandemic, in addition to the natural disasters that occurred in the summer and the effects of the sanctions imposed by the United States on the occasion of the nuclear program.
Experts say the effects of the pandemic in North Korea could trigger a humanitarian disaster due to the precarious healthcare system.
Kang, South Korea’s foreign minister, said in Bahrain on Saturday that the pandemic “makes North Korea ‘more North Korea,’ that is [um país] more closed where there is no debate on measures against covid-19 ”.
“They insist they don’t have a single case, which is hard to believe,” Kang said.
This week, US Undersecretary of State Stephen Biegun, responsible for North Korean affairs, is in Seoul to maintain contacts with Pyongyang, “among other matters.”
