China has told North Korea it is willing to help contain the spread of Covid-19 in a note from President Xi Jinping to his counterpart Kim Jong-un.Xi’s message follows recent rumours about Kim’s health after he failed to appear at a major political event and speculation about the possible spread of the disease in the North, even though it has not reported any cases.
Xi said he was very concerned about the situation in North Korea and the health of its people, and said he was pleased that its efforts to control the respiratory illness had achieved positive results.
State news agency Xinhua reported that Xi had said: “China is willing to step up cooperation to contain the pandemic with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and provide assistance to the DPRK.
“With the joint efforts of both China and the DPRK and the international community, the final victory in this fight against epidemic will be achieved”.
Xi also said China attached serious importance to relations with North Korea, and would work with Kim to deepen communication and cooperation.
On Friday, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said Kim had sent a “verbal message” to Xi, saying “China is registering success in preventing the Covid-19 infection”.
Kim sent another letter to Xi in February, saying North Korea has sent financial aid to China and conveyed his “sincere feelings of wanting to share the suffering and trials of the fraternal Chinese people”.
The latest exchanges of notes among the two leaders followed intense speculation about Kim’s health and whereabouts since his conspicuous no-show at April 15 celebrations of the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il-sung – the most important day in the country’s political calendar.He was absent for weeks before attending an event at a fertiliser plant on May 2 in the company of senior officials, including his younger sister Kim Yo-jong and top aides Pak Pong-ju, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and Premier Kim Jae-ryong.Reports last month suggested that China has dispatched a team of medical experts to Pyongyang led by a member of the International Liaison Department, which handles relations with foreign political parties.
China did not confirm or deny the reports.
Although North Korea has not reported any cases of Covid-19, the claim has been greeted with scepticism in some quarters, with General Robert Abrams, the head of US Forces Korea, saying this was “impossible”.
North Korea says it had quarantined foreigners to stop the coronavirus that causes the disease spreading. It has also cancelled the annual Pyongyang marathon and put people in North Pyongan, the province that borders China, under close monitoring.
By Teddy Ng
Source: SCMP
