北朝鮮、新型コロナウイルス感染者はいまだ「ゼロ」と主張

【ソウルＡＦＰ＝時事】北朝鮮の保健当局幹部は、自国の新型コロナウイルス感染者はいまだに「ゼロ」だと主張している。一方、全世界での感染者数は100万人に近づいており、諸外国の間では北朝鮮の主張に懐疑的な見方が広がっている。（写真は資料写真）
　すでに国際社会から孤立している核保有国の北朝鮮は、隣国の中国で新型コロナウイルスが初めて検出された直後の１月に国境を封鎖。厳格な封じ込め措置を導入した。
　感染症対策当局のトップ、パク・ミョンス氏は、感染症対策が十分に奏功していると主張し、「わが国ではこれまでのところ、誰一人として新型コロナウイルスに感染していない」とＡＦＰに述べた。
　同氏は「わが国への入国者全員の検査と隔離を行い、あらゆる物品を徹底的に消毒する他、国境などを封鎖し、海路と空路も封鎖するなど、先制的かつ科学的な措置を講じた」と説明した。
　専門家らは北朝鮮の医療体制は脆弱（ぜいじゃく）で、感染症流行の打撃を非常に受けやすいと指摘している。また脱北者らは、北朝鮮政府が感染の流行を隠していると非難している。
　在韓米軍のロバート・エイブラムス司令官は先月、北朝鮮に感染者がいることは「ほぼ確実」だと発言。
　ドナルド・トランプ米大統領も、北朝鮮で「何かが起こっている」と述べ、金正恩（キム・ジョンウン）朝鮮労働党委員長に送った書簡で「感染症対策での協力」を提供する意向を表明した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/03-13:34）

North Korea remains totally free of the coronavirus, a senior health official in Pyongyang has insisted, despite mounting scepticism overseas as confirmed global infections near one million.
The already isolated, nuclear-armed North quickly shut down its borders in January after the virus was first detected in neighbouring China, and imposed strict containment measures.
Pak Myong Su, director of the anti-epidemic department of the North's Central Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters, insisted that the efforts had been completely successful.
Not one single person has been infected with the novel coronavirus in our country so far, Pak told AFP.
We have carried out preemptive and scientific measures such as inspections and quarantine for all personnel entering our country and thoroughly disinfecting all goods, as well as closing borders and blocking sea and air lanes.
Nearly every other country has reported coronavirus cases, with the World Health Organization saying on Wednesday that there were nearly one million confirmed infections globally.
Aside from China, South Korea endured one of the worst early outbreaks of the virus, which has claimed more than 45,000 lives around the world.
Experts have said the North is particularly vulnerable to the virus because of its weak medical system, and defectors have accused Pyongyang of covering up an outbreak.
The top US military commander in South Korea, General Robert Abrams, said last month he was fairly certain the North had confirmed cases of the virus.
US President Donald Trump also said North Korea is going through something and offered cooperation in the anti-epidemic work, in a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Pyongyang -- which is subject to multiple international sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes -- has sought virus-related aid.
In February, Russia's foreign ministry said it provided Pyongyang with 1,500 coronavirus diagnostic test kits at its request due to the persisting risk of the new COVID-19.
The United Nations has granted sanctions exemptions to relief groups including Doctors without Borders and UNICEF on items such as diagnostic kits, face masks, protective equipment and disinfectants.
It was not immediately clear whether those supplies had been transferred to the North, and neither organisation responded to inquiries by AFP.
The World Health Organisation plans to spend $900,000 to support Pyongyang's coronavirus response activities, according to data posted on the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs website.