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.
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.