North Korea ramps up mask output in battle for ‘national survival’ against coronavirus
- Factories in Pyongyang are churning out tens of thousands of masks each day but state media does not confirm the presence of virus in North Korea
- With 18 confirmed cases, South Korea pushes for cooperation with neighbour to prevent spread
North Korea has increased production of surgical masks after shutting its borders to all foreign tourists, as the death toll from a coronavirus outbreak rose to nearly 500 on Wednesday.
Factories in Pyongyang were producing tens of thousands of masks every day to meet the growing demand, as part of an effort to prevent an outbreak in the country, according to the official Rodong newspaper.
“As a result of the stepped-up hygiene promotion campaign, all citizens have become more aware [of the danger] and actively participate in efforts to prevent an outbreak of the infectious disease by frequently ventilating their homes, washing their hands and wearing masks,” the newspaper said.
According to data released on Wednesday by China’s National Health Commission (NHC), the number of confirmed cases rose by 3,887 – a daily record high – to 24,324, most of which were in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. The latest fatalities took the death toll in China to 492.
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North Korea has yet to confirm any cases, but the paper suggested that there may be some suspected infections.
“Officials are stationed for those quarantined in [Kangwon province] and measures are being drawn up to ensure that they are receiving protective clothes and medical items, such as masks,” Rodong said.
Kangwon is an eastern province in the Korean peninsula, one that is divided by the border with South Korea.
North Korea recently announced the launch of a national emergency system to cope with the virus, calling such preventive efforts a “political matter” that could determine the fate of the country.
Meanwhile, South Korea was pushing for cooperation with North Korea, as it wanted to help Pyongyang stem the spread of the virus across the border. Seoul has confirmed 18 cases of coronavirus, Yonhap news agency said.
“The government’s stance is that it is necessary to cooperate between the South and the North in blocking and coping with the spread of an infectious disease,” Yoh Sang-key, the unification ministry's spokesman, said.
