Pyongyang-North Korea

January 26, 2023

reviewed by |Tony wild
According to the Russian Embassy in North Korea, Pyongyang began a 5-Day "Special Anti-epidemic period
to face the growing number of patients with influenza and other respiratory diseases, during the winter, the North Korean capital"

The Russian Embassy in North Korea posted on Facebook guidelines received on Wednesday from the Protocol Department of the North Korean Ministry of foreign affairs, which included a set of measures to be observed for five days until Sunday, January 29.

The guidelines stressed that diplomats and embassy staff should restrict their movements outside the embassy premises and in places of residence, to minimize contact with other people, take their temperature four times a day, and inform the Specialized Hospital about this. It is also advisable to contact the hospital in case of medical emergencies.

The North Korean authorities also requested the need to provide advance notice for the delivery of documents to local authorities, as now the embassies will need to put the documents in their mailbox so that North Korean officials can receive them.

Pyongyang also recommended submitting orders for receiving goods by phone so that products can be delivered directly to embassies.

The guidelines added that those measures could be extended by another three days "depending on the state of the fight against the epidemic".

North Korea acknowledged the first case of the covid-19 outbreak, in May 2022, but it is not believed that it was transparent about the state of the epidemic or statistics related to it. Last year, it declared victory over covid-19, but the regime continued its assurances in the state media of vigilance in the face of the virus.

The latest report urging preparedness against the virus was published on Thursday, and it stressed the need to focus on strengthening quarantine efforts against the virus.

The country reported its first case of coronavirus infection weeks after it organized a military parade on April 25 to mark the ninetieth anniversary of the founding of the Korean people's Revolutionary Army last year. North Korea will celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Korean people's army on February 8 this year.

Recent commercial satellite images indicate that North Korea is preparing for a military parade that will include exercises and rehearsals at Kim Il Sung Square and merim Parade Square, before the start of many events this year.

Source (CNN)