North Korean leader sends letter to S Korea expressing condolences over coronavirus crisis

Seoul officials said on March 5 that rth Korean leer Kim Jong Un sent a personal letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in to express his condolences over escalating crisis of dely coronavirus outbreak. As confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Korea reach over 5,700 and has claimed at least 35 lives, in his letter, Kim reportedly conveyed mess of comfort to South Korean people over spre of fatal virus. 

Senior South Korean presidential official Yoon Do-han also told reporters that Kim h “underlined his unwavering friendship and trust toward President Moon and said that he will continue to quietly send his best wishes for President Moon to overcome” outbreak. However, it was t immediately clear if Kim's letter was an attempt to mend tensed relations with Seoul amid delock in broer nuclear diplomacy with United States. Just earlier this week, according to reports, Kim's sister h issued insults against Moon's presidential office in her first official statement. 

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Moon sent a letter back

According to Yoon, South Korean President also sent back a letter on March 5 to rth Korean Supreme Leer while conveying gratitude to him. Both Moon and Kim h built personal ties in 2018 when y h met at least thrice and reached a series of agreements over boosting exchanges and lowering military animosity. Moon h reportedly negotiated a deal for settlement of rth Korean nuclear crisis and even facilitated Kim's first summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in 2018. 

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However, relations between both neighbouring countries have suffered a setback after second summit between Kim and Trump in Vietnam in early 2019 that ended without any deal on rth Korea's nuclear program. Some experts have also said that rth Korea is likely to reach out again to South Korea in order to get help in reviving its troubled ecomy since Washington has said that it will t ease imposed sanctions on rth unless it takes significant steps towards denuclearization. 

Meanwhile, Kim and Moon exchanged 'best wishes' when South Korea has alrey reported more than 3,000 deaths and it is also highest impacted country by COVID-19 outbreak after mainland China. According to reports, cases are also expected to surge with ongoing screening of more than 2,60,000 people associated with Shincheonji Church of Jesus. South Korean President also visited Daegu Medical Centre and held a meeting with officials at Disaster Control and Safety Centre to discuss containment measures to stem spre of dely virus.

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(With AP inputs)