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thewayneUnfortunately the article is behind a Wall Street Journal paywall and I can't find any alternatives at this time. The problem is, there are no real details as to which border area they're talking about, one would presume their border with China as that is where most of their commerce and foreign trade passes through. I hope that's the case, although the DPRK has been denying the existence of Covid within its borders, it's undeniable that it has been hitting the country hard.
From the Slashdot summary:
"North Korea and Eritrea, in east Africa, were the only remaining countries that hadn't started widespread vaccination distribution, the World Health Organization has said. After rejecting millions of doses from other countries last year, North Korea admitted to its first nationwide Covid-19 outbreak in May and declared victory in August. Then, earlier this month, leader Kim Jong Un said Covid-19 vaccines would be distributed starting in November. He cited findings from the country's antiepidemic experts that North Koreans who contracted Covid-19 in May and June would experience a decline in their antibody response starting in October.
During a Wednesday briefing to South Korean lawmakers, Seoul's spy agency said North Korea had begun distributing vaccines, though it didn't specify in which border areas. The lawmakers who were briefed didn't say where the vaccines had come from or when they were first distributed. Repeated lockdowns suggest North Korea hasn't eradicated the virus, the spy agency told lawmakers. Considering some recent resumption of flights and train operations between China and North Korea, it is most likely that China is supplying the vaccines, said Hong Min, of the Seoul-based Korea Institute for National Unification, a government-funded think tank."
https://science.slashdot.org/story/22/09/28/1524200/north-korea-launches-mass-covid-19-vaccination-campaign
From the Slashdot summary:
"North Korea and Eritrea, in east Africa, were the only remaining countries that hadn't started widespread vaccination distribution, the World Health Organization has said. After rejecting millions of doses from other countries last year, North Korea admitted to its first nationwide Covid-19 outbreak in May and declared victory in August. Then, earlier this month, leader Kim Jong Un said Covid-19 vaccines would be distributed starting in November. He cited findings from the country's antiepidemic experts that North Koreans who contracted Covid-19 in May and June would experience a decline in their antibody response starting in October.
During a Wednesday briefing to South Korean lawmakers, Seoul's spy agency said North Korea had begun distributing vaccines, though it didn't specify in which border areas. The lawmakers who were briefed didn't say where the vaccines had come from or when they were first distributed. Repeated lockdowns suggest North Korea hasn't eradicated the virus, the spy agency told lawmakers. Considering some recent resumption of flights and train operations between China and North Korea, it is most likely that China is supplying the vaccines, said Hong Min, of the Seoul-based Korea Institute for National Unification, a government-funded think tank."
https://science.slashdot.org/story/22/09/28/1524200/north-korea-launches-mass-covid-19-vaccination-campaign
no subject
Date: 2022-09-30 12:05 am (UTC)All got the shots, but told their minions they shouldn't get them? UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs, Jon
no subject
Date: 2022-09-30 12:35 am (UTC)Well, that's guaranteed. They're important people and can't afford to be sick! But they're using the Chinese vaccine most likely, and it really isn't that great.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-30 01:28 am (UTC)lol...............
no subject
Date: 2022-09-30 08:02 pm (UTC)Sinovac makes sense as the one to use, since it's close by and from a nominally similarly aligned country, so again, I don't see the reason for secrecy on the matter.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-30 09:12 pm (UTC)DPRK is not a typical dictatorship The Kim family has maintained a semi-divine status, and admitting that the virus exists and they can't control it could undermine that status, so I can see them trying to downplay it. Their "hermit kingdom" status did give them a slight advantage in not having it run amok, but that only gave them a little time. The truth is as long as they had ANY outside contact, there was risk of it spreading like a wild fire, and them being woefully unable to cope. If they are unable to feed their country well, they are completely unable to cope with a nation-wide pandemic.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-30 09:36 pm (UTC)It seems reasonable enough to be able to manufacture a story that gets people to take the vaccine and keep the story intact, but I also don't work in PR, so I have no idea how difficult that kind of messaging is.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-30 09:59 pm (UTC)Required vitamins blessed by our Benevolent Ruler to keep his people healthy. You will get it twice a year because he loves you so. If you contract a fever the next day, clearly you're thinking impure thoughts about him.
no subject
Date: 2022-10-01 01:34 am (UTC)