North Korea suggests its Covid-19 outbreak began in people who had contact with balloons flown from South Korea — a highly questionable claim that appeared to be an attempt to hold its rival responsible amid increasing tensions over its nuclear program.
— a highly questionable claim that appeared to be an attempt to hold its rival responsible amid increasing tensions over its nuclear program.
The state media report said North Korea’s epidemic prevention center had found infection clusters in the town of Ipho near its southeastern border with South Korea and that some Ipho residents with feverish symptoms traveled to Pyongyang. The center said an 18-year-old soldier and a 5-year kindergartener had contact with “alien things” in the town in early April and later tested positive for the omicron variant.
Leafletting campaigns were largely halted after South Korea’s previous liberal government passed a law criminalizing them, and there were no public balloon attempts made in early April. In its previous dubious statements on Covid-19, North Korea also claimed the virus could spread through falling snow or migratory birds. Its pandemic-related restrictions even included strict bans on entering seawater.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North Korea blames Covid-19 outbreak on 'unusual items' near South Korea borderNorth Korea on Friday claimed its Covid-19 outbreak began when two residents touched 'unusual things' near the South Korean border, according to state media.
Read more »
Leaders of U.S., South Korea and Japan agree closer cooperation over North Korea threatThe leaders of the United States, South Korea and Japan on Wednesday expressed deep concern over North Korea's missile tests and said they would cooperate more closely to address the threat posed by Pyongyang.
Read more »
‘Alien things’ brought covid-19 into North Korea, regime saysNorth Korea on Friday identified the supposed source of its coronavirus outbreak for the first time, claiming people contracted the virus after coming into contact with “alien things” along its border with South Korea.
Read more »
N. Korea suggests balloons flown from South brought COVID-19North Korea suggested Friday its COVID-19 outbreak began in people who had contact with balloons flown from South Korea — a highly questionable claim that appeared to be an attempt to hold its rival responsible amid increasing tensions over its nuclear program. Activists for years have flown balloons across the border to distribute hundreds of thousands of propaganda leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and North Korea has often expressed fury at the activists and at South Korea’s leadership for not stopping them.
Read more »
North Korea claims 'alien things' at the border caused COVID-19North Korea’s state newspaper published a news report on where the COVID-19 virus came from and pointed the finger at materials that flew in from South Korea.
Read more »