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North Korea's Virus-Free Claim 'Impossible,' Top US General Says

William Gallo

   SEOUL - The top U.S. general in South Korea said he does not accept
   North Korea's claim that it has no coronavirus cases.

   "I can tell you that is an impossible claim based on all of the intel
   that we have seen," General Robert Abrams told VOA and the U.S.-based
   cable news network CNN in a wide-ranging joint interview Thursday.

   North Korea has repeatedly insisted it remains virus-free, even as the
   disease ravages countries around the world.

   "We're not going to reveal our sources and methods. (But) that is
   untrue. How many, I couldn't tell you," Abrams said.

   North Korea closed its borders in late January, just after the
   coronavirus emerged in neighboring China. But completely sealing the
   border with China would be almost impossible, since North Korea's
   economy relies on both formal and informal trade with China.

   Abrams said North Korea's military was also "locked down" for about 30
   days in February and early March. "They took draconian measures at
   their border crossings and inside their formations to do exactly what
   everybody else is doing, which is to stop the spread," he said.

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