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North Korea Reports First Suspected Coronavirus Case

William Gallo

   SEOUL - After months of denying it had any coronavirus infections,
   North Korea has reported its first suspected case, blaming an alleged
   defector who had recently reentered the country.

   State media said a runaway who was "suspected to have been infected
   with the vicious virus" had left for South Korea three years ago but
   returned July 19 "after illegally crossing the demarcation line" that
   separates the two Koreas.

   The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said an "uncertain
   result was made from several medical checkups of the secretion of that
   person's upper respiratory organ and blood," but it did not say whether
   the patient had undergone a coronavirus test.

   "The person was put under strict quarantine as a primary step and all
   the persons in Kaesong City who contacted that person and those who
   have been to the city in the last five days are being thoroughly
   investigated, given medical examination and put under quarantine," it
   said.

   North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened a politburo meeting Saturday
   during which he acknowledged "the vicious virus could be said to have
   entered the country," KCNA said.

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