North Korea is facing its first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak with no known vaccine programme, sparking new calls for the government to accept aid that could save lives, help protect its battered economy, and possibly lead to a diplomatic opening.
The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Friday it intends to help the North, including by providing vaccines, and that specific measures would be discussed with Pyongyang.
Others said that it remains unclear whether North Korea's stance is softening, and that there are many hurdles with geopolitical implications. But the politicization of aid may also be a major reason why North Korea has been hesitant to accept. Authorities in Pyongyang appeared suspicious that they would only get a limited amount of vaccine and then to be under pressure to accept more, an independent U.N. human rights investigator said in February.
If North Korea accepts, the international vaccine-sharing programme COVAX can provide doses to enable the country to catch up with international immunization targets, said a spokesperson for Gavi, the charity that helps operate the programme.
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