Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Health

North Korea reports first COVID outbreak, orders lockdown

Covid-19 North North Korea Kim Jong Un KCNA Pyongyang
Pyongyang took stringent measures to curb the virus early in the pandemic and before Thursday's announcement said t had had no cases [File: Cha Song Ho/AP Photo]

North Korea has confirmed its first outbreak of COVID-19, raising fears of a humanitarian disaster in one of the world’s few unvaccinated countries as it goes into a nationwide lockdown.

Authorities detected a sub-variant of the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant, BA.2, in people in Pyongyang, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday, without elaborating on the number of confirmed cases.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
These are the most mispronounced words in the US
Americans struggled to pronounce the name of a popular dog breed, a British sauce and a word from a hit Disney movie
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lana Del Rey Hands $100 to Woman Escaping Abuse, Sparking Online Debate
Lana Del Rey said she gave $100 and advice to a woman who approached her car in Los Angeles while fleeing an abusive relationship, prompting mixed online reactions.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
“I’ve Never Seen This Before”: Animal-Trainer Stunned After A Budgie Naps In His Daughter’s Hair
One tiny budgie decided a young girl’s braids made the perfect bed, and even her animal-trainer dad had never seen anything like it.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
5 Things You Should Never Put in a Hotel Room Safe Without Thinking Twice
Hotel room safes seem like the perfect solution for protecting valuables while you’re traveling. You check into your room, enter a four-digit code, and tuck...
Saving Advice
Saving Advice
'Bennifer' Could Rise Again: Insider Fuels Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Reunion Talk After Divorce
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are reportedly in regular contact following their divorce, but claims they could reunite rely on an unnamed source and remain unverified.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Woman orders white wine at NYC restaurant. Server brings it to her at room temp and allegedly says that’s how its supposed to be
Can white wine ever be served at room temperature?
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play