South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers that North Korea is taking harsh measures against those who violate anti-virus rules. The regime is said to have executed an official in August who broke these rules.

North Korea had sealed borders with China to prevent the entry of the coronavirus. However, that official brought goods through customs, in the border city of Sinuiju, so he was executed.

The intelligence officials also said that North Korea has locked down its capital Pyongyang. It has also prohibited salt production as well as fishing in the ocean to prevent COVID-19 from reaching its shores. It is suffering from economic hardship, food shortages and price surges.

North Korea claims that its country is COVID-19 free as thousands have been tested and not a single person has the coronavirus. Some health experts believe that smugglers may have brought in the coronavirus from China to North Korea.

Lawmaker Ha also said that North Korean hackers tried to hack into the database of a South Korean drugmaker who is working on developing a Coronavirus vaccine. However this attempt was foiled.

North Korean leader Kim is keeping options open with the new Biden regime by asking his diplomats not to antagonize the US and ambassadors would be held responsible if any mistakes are committed.

“We’ve been told that there have been orders to exercise utmost prudence in language,” lawmaker Kim Byung -kee told reporters.

Source NPR