Kim Jong-un warns of 'serious consequences' if coronavirus spreads to North Korea

rth Korea's supreme leer Kim Jong-un has called for stronger efforts to guard against global coronavirus outbreak, saying re will be "serious consequences" if epidemic outbreak spres to country. rth Korea has t reported a single case of COVID-19, which has killed more than 2,800 people and infected over 84,000 people in dozens of countries since it emerged in neighbouring China, Al Jazeera reported. However, a news report on Saturday claimed that Kim Jong-un sanctioned for execution of first person who tested positive for dely virus. 

During a meeting of ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Kim called for country's anti-epidemic hequarters to strengn screening and to seal off all "channels and through which infectious disease may find its way," official Korean Central News ncy (KCNA) reported on Saturday. "In case infectious disease spreing beyond control finds its way into our country, it will entail serious consequences," KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

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Pyongyang has been pushing a tough anti-virus campaign it has described as a matter of "national existence". country has shut down nearly all cross-border traffic, banned tourists, intensified screening at entry points and mobilised tens of thousands of health workers to monitor residents and isolate those with symptoms. It has also placed hundreds of foreigners in quarantine to prevent an outbreak. Experts say an epidemic in rth Korea could be dire because of country's chronic lack of medical supplies and poor healthcare infrastructure.

Meanwhile, German Embassy, French Cooperation Office, and Swiss Development Cooperation are in close cooperation with each or to evacuate all quarantined foreign diplomats from rth Korea. exact number of foreign diplomats stationed inside rth Korea is unkwn but is estimated to be just a few hundred. country previously anunced that all foreigners would be quarantined for 30 days, after quickly closing its borders at onset of coronavirus outbreak. 

US to help rth Korea 

United States promised to support and encour aid work in rth Korea to “counter and contain” spre of vel coronavirus, COVID-19, in region. Citing rth’s vulnerability to dely virus, State Department spokesperson Morgan Orgatus, in a statement, said that US “strongly support” and “encour” work of national and international health organisations to combat coronavirus. “ United States is rey and prepared to expeditiously facilitate approval of assistance from se organizations,” said Orgatus.

Over 1,300 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed outside China in past 24 hours taking number of those infected with virus outside Asian nation to 6009, anunced World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday. Of 6009 cases outside China, 1318 are new cases of COVID-19, WHO situation report (with data reported by 10 am on February 29) said. re have been a total of 86 deaths from coronavirus disease outside of China, 19 of m occurred in past 24 hours. According to situation report, Mexico and San Mari reported ir first coronavirus cases in past 24 hours. A total of 53 countries, apart from China, have been affected. Over 85,400 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed globally. 

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(With AP inputs)