for over two years north korea has
seemingly sat out the coronavirus
pandemic not registering a single case
well that might be because of the
country's isolated position or it might
just not be true at all as official
bulletins from pyongyang are not
considered especially reliable
regardless over the past few days north
korea has reported covet 19 cases and
that raises questions of how the
pandemic might impact the country
according to military analysts in south
korea these pictures show work at a
nuclear test site in north korea
seen with three recent missile tests and
a military parade just a few weeks ago
the country is putting on a defiant show
of strength
behind the scenes a different picture
kim jong-un wearing a face mask for the
first time ever admitting that his
country too has been hit with a corona
virus
at least six people have died
taking a page out of china's playbook
north korea has moved towards lockdowns
to keep the health risk at bay
the economic cost to the country is
unknown
due to covet food shortages and economic
crisis might deteriorate in north korea
in order to prevent that they are
conducting food rationing measures so
north korea is under very severe
quarantine measures to prevent a mass
outbreak of confirmed covet cases
for now north korean state tv shows
empty streets typical scenes for a
lockdown
south korea reports that north korean
farmers were seen on their fields across
the border a sign that the agricultural
sector might be exempt to prevent a
worsening of the country's economic
situation
i asked correspondent frank smith if
there was any way to assess the economic
hardship now facing north korea take a
listen it's difficult to know what's
going on inside north korea they have
admitted to having something like 1.7
million cases those that are symptomatic
showing a fever but many of the cases
would be unsymptomatic and that
information doesn't line up with what
they're saying in terms of casualties so
far just 62
deaths there have been concerns about
north korea's response in terms of
lockdowns they have said that they're
going to lock down isolate
portions of the population those that
have appeared symptomatic
and these locks downs especially if they
spread across people that are not
symptomatic in an attempt to avoid the
spread of the virus in north korea will
have
a serious effect in terms of economic
repercussions on a family unit basis and
healthcare professionals and human
rights advocates
worry that north korea won't balance the
economic hardships that people may
experience through lockdowns with
the pandemic and the effects of the
pandemic itself if we remember north
korea was the first country really to
seal its border back in january 2020
when the pandemic hit the world that had
very serious economic consequences
inside north korea shortages of medical
supplies and even daily necessities
the situation now on that and might be
alleviated a little bit as the border
with china is opening but still there
are these concerns about the economic
hardships that people may feel as a
result of the government's response to
the pandemic and the pandemic itself
correspondent frank smith there in seoul
you