North Korea Coronavirus - WEB
Metadata
- North Korea Coronavirus - WEB
- June 3, 2022
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English North Korea Coronavirus TV HEADLINE: North Korea COVID Situation Remains a Mystery, Despite Disclosure of Some Cases TEASER: Experts say there’s still little reason to trust Pyongyang’s outbreak numbers PUBLISHED: 6/3/22 at 5:08 p.m. BYLINE: William Gallo CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Seoul, South Korea VIDEOGRAPHER: Kim Hyungjin PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: MPage, Tom Turco VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, Reuters, Zoom PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:45 VID APPROVED BY: MPage TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: )) ((Editors: It’s best not to use this as a web story, since I did a similar version for the web on Monday. -Bill)) ((INTRO)) [[The World Health Organization says it appears North Korea’s coronavirus outbreak is getting worse. That contradicts recent claims by North Korea’s government, which only recently admitted it is dealing with COVID-19 at all. More from VOA’s Bill Gallo, who reports from near South Korea's border with North Korea.]] ((NARRATOR)) Almost two and a half years into the coronavirus pandemic, this is still as close as outsiders can get to North Korea. At this South Korean observatory, you can peer across the border. Searching for even the smallest clues about how the country is coping with COVID-19. There are no obvious signs of a lockdown, at least in this small farming village. (Reporter Stand-up) “North Korea recently admitted for the first time that it is dealing with a COVID outbreak. But the true extent of its pandemic situation is just as unclear as ever.” ((NARRATOR)) State media have reported about 4 million fever cases, but only about 70 deaths. That would be the best COVID-19 fatality rate in the world. But it’s not clear all those fever cases are COVID-19, likely because North Korea doesn’t have enough tests. ((Nagi Shafik, Former WHO Project Manager in Pyongyang)) ((Mandatory Zoom credit)) “Before they used to have some supplies, PCR tests, provided I think by the WHO, but I don’t think they have it now, or maybe they have very few … ((white flash cut)) ...so, it’s really very difficult to interpret the data we have.” Even with incomplete data, North Korean officials insist the situation is improving. They say daily infection rates have plummeted. But the World Health Organization says it sees no evidence of that claim. ((Michael Ryan, WHO Emergencies Director)) “We assume that situation is getting worse, not better. But again, it is very, very difficult to provide a proper analysis to the world when we don't have access to the necessary data.” ((NARRATOR)) North Korea has repeatedly ignored international offers of COVID-19 vaccines and other help, though reports suggest it may have recently received some aid from China. In the meantime, state media urge citizens to drink herbal tea, take pain relievers, and gargle with salt water – signs the country doesn’t have what it takes to handle a major epidemic. ((Lee Heeje, Korea Health Policy Project, Harvard Medical School)) “Not enough medicine, not enough equipment. Not enough anything – even electricity is not always there. So … ((white flash cut)) ...I’m worried, yes.” ((NARRATOR)) Lee Heeje has visited North Korea three times. He says it’s feasible the virus has been contained until now, given North Korea’s unique ability to control its population. But he fears the worst may be yet to come. ((Lee Heeje, Korea Health Policy Project, Harvard Medical School)) “It is really early to make an assessment or final assessment that North Korea has done great. No, we are not there yet. Because of the nature of the disease. Because of the nature of the pandemic.” "For now, North Korea remains completely shut off from the rest of the world, fighting the pandemic in its own unique way. ((Bill Gallo. VOA News. Aegibong, South Korea.
- Transcript/Script North Korea Coronavirus TV HEADLINE: North Korea COVID Situation Remains a Mystery, Despite Disclosure of Some Cases TEASER: Experts say there’s still little reason to trust Pyongyang’s outbreak numbers PUBLISHED: 6/3/22 at 5:08 p.m. BYLINE: William Gallo CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Seoul, South Korea VIDEOGRAPHER: Kim Hyungjin PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: MPage, Tom Turco VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, Reuters, Zoom PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 2:45 VID APPROVED BY: MPage TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: )) ((Editors: It’s best not to use this as a web story, since I did a similar version for the web on Monday. -Bill)) ((INTRO)) [[The World Health Organization says it appears North Korea’s coronavirus outbreak is getting worse. That contradicts recent claims by North Korea’s government, which only recently admitted it is dealing with COVID-19 at all. More from VOA’s Bill Gallo, who reports from near South Korea's border with North Korea.]] ((NARRATOR)) Almost two and a half years into the coronavirus pandemic, this is still as close as outsiders can get to North Korea. At this South Korean observatory, you can peer across the border. Searching for even the smallest clues about how the country is coping with COVID-19. There are no obvious signs of a lockdown, at least in this small farming village. (Reporter Stand-up) “North Korea recently admitted for the first time that it is dealing with a COVID outbreak. But the true extent of its pandemic situation is just as unclear as ever.” ((NARRATOR)) State media have reported about 4 million fever cases, but only about 70 deaths. That would be the best COVID-19 fatality rate in the world. But it’s not clear all those fever cases are COVID-19, likely because North Korea doesn’t have enough tests. ((Nagi Shafik, Former WHO Project Manager in Pyongyang)) ((Mandatory Zoom credit)) “Before they used to have some supplies, PCR tests, provided I think by the WHO, but I don’t think they have it now, or maybe they have very few … ((white flash cut)) ...so, it’s really very difficult to interpret the data we have.” Even with incomplete data, North Korean officials insist the situation is improving. They say daily infection rates have plummeted. But the World Health Organization says it sees no evidence of that claim. ((Michael Ryan, WHO Emergencies Director)) “We assume that situation is getting worse, not better. But again, it is very, very difficult to provide a proper analysis to the world when we don't have access to the necessary data.” ((NARRATOR)) North Korea has repeatedly ignored international offers of COVID-19 vaccines and other help, though reports suggest it may have recently received some aid from China. In the meantime, state media urge citizens to drink herbal tea, take pain relievers, and gargle with salt water – signs the country doesn’t have what it takes to handle a major epidemic. ((Lee Heeje, Korea Health Policy Project, Harvard Medical School)) “Not enough medicine, not enough equipment. Not enough anything – even electricity is not always there. So … ((white flash cut)) ...I’m worried, yes.” ((NARRATOR)) Lee Heeje has visited North Korea three times. He says it’s feasible the virus has been contained until now, given North Korea’s unique ability to control its population. But he fears the worst may be yet to come. ((Lee Heeje, Korea Health Policy Project, Harvard Medical School)) “It is really early to make an assessment or final assessment that North Korea has done great. No, we are not there yet. Because of the nature of the disease. Because of the nature of the pandemic.” "For now, North Korea remains completely shut off from the rest of the world, fighting the pandemic in its own unique way. ((Bill Gallo. VOA News. Aegibong, South Korea.))
- NewsML Media Topics Conflict, War and Peace
- Topic Tags COVID
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date June 3, 2022 18:55 EDT
- Description English The World Health Organization says it appears North Korea’s coronavirus outbreak is getting worse. That contradicts recent claims by North Korea’s government, which only recently admitted it is dealing with COVID-19 at all. More from VOA’s Bill Gallo, who reports from near South Korea's border with North Korea.
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English