North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held an emergency meeting over a COVID-19 outbreak sweeping the unvaccinated country and causing one of the biggest crises under his rule, reprimanding cadres for failing to execute his public health orders.
At the meeting, North Korea reported 392,920 new “fever cases” and eight new deaths nationwide in a 24-hour period ending 6 p.m. Sunday, the state’s official Korean Central News Agency reported. Since late April, 50 people have died and the total number of people reportedly infected topped 1.2 million, of which at least 564,860 are under medical treatment, it said in a Monday report.
Kim “strongly criticized the Cabinet and public health sector for their irresponsible work attitude and organizing and executing ability,” KCNA reported, with Kim saying they “have not rolled up their sleeves and not properly recognized the present crisis.” The harsh words came after the state last week for the first time admitted it had a Covid case within its borders, which prompted Kim to order a lockdown of major cities.
