China sent an experimental vaccine to the leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un and his family from the coronavirus, reports Reuters citing sources in Japanese intelligence.
It is noted that Kim Jong-un, his family and several high-ranking North Korean officials have already been vaccinated. However, it is unclear which specific company provided their drug, and whether it was safe. MFA China did not confirm this information, but did not deny it either.
Some experts doubted that the DPRK leader could really supply himself with a vaccine. “Even if the Chinese vaccine had already been approved, (…) he would not have taken such a risk, because he has many shelters that can provide almost complete isolation,” said an infectious disease expert who escaped from North Korea several years ago, Choi Chun-hun.
According to the latest data , four Chinese vaccines against COVID-19 are on the final stage of clinical trials. Three of them may already be included in the emergency program.
North Korea has regularly stated that the country does not need external assistance in the fight against coronavirus. There allegedly was not a single case of infection with the infection during the entire time of the pandemic, the suspicion of its presence was allegedly observed only once.