As it faces an unprecedented coronavirus outbreak, North Korea is scaling up the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies such as sterilizers and thermometers, according to state broadcaster KCNA on Thursday.
A widespread COVID-19 outbreak, initially announced by North Korea last week, has sparked fears of a lack of medical resources and vaccines, with the UN human rights agency warning of "devastating" repercussions for the country's 25 million people.
According to KCNA, the isolated country is also increasing manufacture of traditional Korean medications used to relieve fever and pain, which are "effective in prevention and cure of the malicious disease."
North Korea has reported 1,978,230 people with fever symptoms and 63 deaths thus far, and has instituted severe anti-virus measures.
As of Wednesday evening, at least 262,270 more people had reported fever symptoms, and one more person had died, according to KCNA, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. It was unclear how many people tested positive for the infection.
Factories in Pyongyang and adjacent regions are producing more injections, medicines, thermometers, and other medical supplies "in a lightning way," according to KCNA, while new isolation wards have been erected and disinfection work has been stepped up around the country.
"Thousands of tons of salt were urgently transported to Pyongyang City to produce antiseptic solution," KCNA reported.
The reports came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized officials for their "immature" reactions to the pandemic, blaming inadequate medicine distribution.
In the absence of a countrywide vaccination program and COVID-19 treatment, state media have urged sufferers to use painkillers and antibiotics, as well as unproven home cures such as gargling salt water or drinking lonicera japonica or willow leaf tea.
South Korea and the U.S. have both offered to assist North Korea in fighting the epidemic, including providing aid, but have yet to receive a response, according to Seoul's deputy national security advisor.
Experts believe North Korea will reject practically all international anti-virus assistance, at least for the time being, despite the country's first reported breakout of probable COVID-19 cases.
Pyongyang has yet to respond to Seoul's offer of dialogue on anti-virus assistance. On Monday, the South Korean Ministry of Unification sent a message to North Korea, requesting working-level negotiations on distributing vaccines, masks, and test kits to the afflicted area.
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, Pyongyang reportedly approached Beijing for assistance with medical supplies and equipment shortly after the outbreak.
Three Air Koryo aircraft from North Korea arrived in China on Monday and returned to Pyongyang with medical supplies, according to a diplomatic source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
