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Despite mounting clues to the contrary, such as state media announcing that 7,000 people were being held for “medical monitoring” in the northern province, the country maintains it has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. The government has also in recent weeks taken aggressive precautions to prevent its spread within the country, including the cancellation of major festivals. The quarantine was imposed in Shindo county, an island at the mouth of the Yalu river located at the westernmost edge of the Sino-Korean land border.

Sources say it is a high-risk area because it is frequently used by smugglers to get in and out of China easily. A resident of nearby Ryongchon county told Radio Free Asia’s Korean Service: “A group of suspected new coronavirus cases occurred in Shindo county, North Pyongan province, near Donggang, China, so the area was completely quarantined on February 25. “Soldiers and residents are not allowed to go out to sea or to travel inland. “There are border guards there to block people from other areas entering the island.”

Kim Jong un has threatened the west with nuclear missiles

This news comes as Washington-based North Korea experts told RFA that the admission in state media reports that there were a large number of possible coronavirus cases being monitored is probably a solid indication that the virus has already entered North Korea. Troy Stangarone of the Korea Economic Institute told RFA said: “It seems as though North Korea is still downplaying the virus to an extent, but with the virus spreading to more countries around the world it may be politically easier for the regime to acknowledge the coronavirus’ presence in North Korea. “Given the coronavirus’ outbreak in China and the cross border trade and tourism between the two countries, it seems unlikely that there would be no infections in North Korea. However, due to the closed nature of North Korea it is difficult to know how widely the virus has spread.” Bruce Klingner, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told RFA the announcement was a “grudging recognition” that COVID-19 has entered North Korea. READ MORE: Portugal holidays: Is this the safest holiday destination?

Kim Jong un has threatened the west with nuclear missiles

Kim Jong un has threatened the west with nuclear missiles

With the source adding that, “the first suspected case is known to be a man who came in contact with a Chinese smuggler, but his family doesn’t even know where he is being treated.” To enforce the quarantine, the government has sent security forces to the area. Radio Free Asia quoted the source added: “The national emergency quarantine committee stationed border guards from outside of Shindo in response. “There is also a battalion of soldiers stationed there, and they are guarding the border guard posts.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says there are no coronavirus cases in his country

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