North Korea is facing covid crunch: As the leader of North Korea for more than a decade, Kim Jong-un emphasized ‘self-reliance’ in his regime and bypassed international cooperation Did. But due to the rise of Kovid-19 infection in his country, he seems to be caught in a serious dilemma about taking foreign cooperation.
Kim Jong Un in deep dilemma
Before this, he tried to fix his faltering economy with a domestic strategy. But Kim’s pride is at stake due to the fear of thousands of people in North Korea being infected with Kovid-19. Kim currently stands at a crossroads, where he must either deal with his pride and seek foreign help to fight the disease, or walk alone. But a large number of people are expected to die from Kovid-19 by walking alone, which may weaken their leadership.
Will Kim Jong Un seek help from other countries?
Professor Lim Eul-chul of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Yeungnam University in Seoul says that if Kim accepts American or Western aid, the ‘self-reliance’ policy he has firmly adhered to, He may be shocked and people’s faith in him may be weakened.
The professor says that if they do not do anything ie walk alone, then a disaster may have to be faced in the form of death of a large number of people due to infection. He said that 56 people have died in North Korea since the rise of Kovid-19 infection last week, while more than 1.5 lakh others are sick.
Corona a serious crisis
External observers say that most cases of the disease are due to the corona virus. Whatever the state media of North Korea may say, but the corona virus infection is expected to be manifold and serious. North Korea lacks adequate testing for Kovid-19 and according to experts, North Korea is hiding the deaths due to Kovid-19, to avoid possible instability. Because instability in the public can harm Kim politically.
Kim Jong Un hiding the death toll?
Some observers said the reported death toll is low in North Korea, where most of the 26 million population has not been vaccinated for COVID-19. North Korea may be able to publicly hide the actual number of deaths, but the country’s tough restrictions on movement and segregation rules could damage its agriculture. Its economy is already in turmoil due to the pandemic and border closure for more than 2 years.
Professor Yang Moo-jin of the Seoul University of North Korean Studies said North Korea is also concerned about the lack of medical supplies and food and daily necessities, which are missing from markets during the border closure. Kim had previously rejected millions of doses of vaccines offered by the United Nations-backed Kovacs distribution program.
Will Kim Jong Un decide?
Another professor said that Kim would eventually like to get Chinese aid, but that he would not seek help from South Korea and the United States or Kovacs, as it would affect his reputation. Getting outside aid would put North Korea in a difficult position. Kim has repeatedly described his country as “impervious” to the pandemic during the past two years. But last Saturday, he said his country was facing “turmoil”.
