Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un Tells Supporters Nation is Facing 'Worst Ever Situation'
PJ Media ^ | 04/07/2021 | Rick Moran

Posted on 04/07/2021 8:35:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

North Korea has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus but we know from foreign diplomats that all is not well in the Hermit Kingdom.

When the pandemic began, North Korea locked down its borders with China and appeared to be successfully battling the disease. But that has changed. While the North Korean government claimed they had battled to virus successfully because of their superior health care system, the truth is that there is very little that passes for modern medical facilities outside of Pyongyang. North Korea is now under the most severe lockdown in the world and their economy — already teetering because of incompetence and U.S.-led sanctions — is close to collapse.

Diplomat:

Despite its claims to the contrary, North Korea’s restrictions and economic data suggest that “it is having trouble with containing the virus and it had already confirmed coronavirus cases,” according to Park Won-gon, a professor of international relations at Handong Global University in South Korea.

“It is unreasonable to say that there is no coronavirus case in North Korea,” said Park. “Considering there was a period of about a month during which China had not clearly revealed information about the coronavirus, even though it confirmed cases in Wuhan in late 2019, more than one coronavirus case must have entered into North Korea, but they might not know.” Park added that the North was actively engaging in trade with China during that time, making the spread of COVID-19 across the border likely.

How bad is it really? Kim has been forced to admit to party supporters that the country was in the “worst-ever situation” and that all of his plans to raise the standard of living for the people depend on his supporters — not him.

CBS News:

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: covid19; kimjongun; northkorea
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-26 next last

1 posted on 04/07/2021 8:35:44 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

How did coronavirus get into a country that was totally closed? OR closed to the point that EVERYONE in contact with foreigners would likely be known and confirmed?


2 posted on 04/07/2021 8:39:13 PM PDT by Captainpaintball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I thought any North Korean diagnosed with Covid was shot dead?

While Covid is 100% deadly there, look on the bright side.

There is no one alive who has it.


3 posted on 04/07/2021 8:42:58 PM PDT by Alas Babylon! ("You, the American people, are my only special interest." --President Donald J. Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

So the Exalted Kim has a new gig - writer at Babylon Bee!!


4 posted on 04/07/2021 9:07:16 PM PDT by Honest Nigerian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

For Kim to openly admit to such troubles, everything must really be hitting the fans right now.


5 posted on 04/07/2021 9:10:34 PM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
After the chocolate ration is reduced from 30 grammes per week to 20, the Ministry of Truth will put out the claim that it has been increased to 20 grammes (its supposed previous level is not stated).
6 posted on 04/07/2021 9:11:36 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there is no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. P144:1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I wonder if the population is being immunized.


7 posted on 04/07/2021 9:12:56 PM PDT by TChad (The MSM, having nuked its own credibility, is now bombing the rubble.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Captainpaintball

As the excerpt explains, COVID-19 probably got into NK before they were even looking for it.


8 posted on 04/07/2021 9:35:03 PM PDT by Paul R. (You know your pullets are dumb if they don't recognize a half Whopper as food!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Like Cambodia before the collapse of the Khmer Rouge????


9 posted on 04/07/2021 9:51:59 PM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Captainpaintball

Well, we know very, very few North Koreans are anywhere close to obese. I wonder if severe malnutrition is a comorbidity? Yup. Malnutrition increases proinflammatory mediator levels and inflammatory cytokines. I am not a doctor, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn, but that sounds double ungood for COVID.

Of course we will probably never know what happened in DPRK beyond statements from the few that escape.


10 posted on 04/07/2021 9:56:37 PM PDT by ETCM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Captainpaintball
Someone has to smuggle in the Cognac, Rolex watches, Swiss chocolate, etc.

Also, if the conditions are as bad as reported in the NK prison camps, then they could have lost tens of thousands of free laborers.

11 posted on 04/07/2021 10:20:21 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (This is not a tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Paul R.

I guess they are less closed than I thought. I assume they do have daily contact with Chinese, so my original question, while valid, was a little naive.


12 posted on 04/07/2021 10:56:32 PM PDT by Captainpaintball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Captainpaintball

In recent years they had developed a black market over the border with China.


13 posted on 04/07/2021 11:02:39 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: ETCM

so does gross malnutrition...

weaker immune systems...

i bet most of those people are both vitamin d and zinc deficient, among other vitamins and minerals.


14 posted on 04/07/2021 11:11:30 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: piasa

Yeah, I heard that too. My original question wasn’t a great one, but compared to other countries, NK is a closed off nation. But not when they are neighbors with CHINA, right?


15 posted on 04/07/2021 11:14:56 PM PDT by Captainpaintball
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Captainpaintball
I heard there is a thriving black market, with goods smuggled from Chyna.

For the party elites, of course.

Peasants have no money.

16 posted on 04/07/2021 11:42:47 PM PDT by Eagles6 (Welcome to the Matrix circa 1984.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: lee martell

Time for his sister the “Dragon Lady” to step in and take over.


17 posted on 04/08/2021 12:03:24 AM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Wuli

“Like Cambodia before the collapse of the Khmer Rouge????”

I’m not sure the Khmer Rouge ever ‘collapsed’. More like they were driven out of power (by Vietnam).


18 posted on 04/08/2021 3:33:29 AM PDT by BobL (TheDonald.win is now Patriots.win)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

How would anyone know if NK was in the worst shape ever? Were they ever in less than worst shape?


19 posted on 04/08/2021 4:15:56 AM PDT by redangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eagles6

I heard there is a thriving black market, with goods smuggled from Chyna.


There are NK owned shops on the Chinese side of the border - relatively prosperous towns at that - that sell anything you would find in any other store in China. As bribery is a way of life in China, no doubt the goods pass easily over the border - no smuggling needed.


20 posted on 04/08/2021 4:35:57 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-26 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson