On Friday, North Korea announced its first Covid-19 fatality, claiming that the disease was spreading “explosively” across the country and that tens of thousands of people were being quarantined after becoming ill.

The isolated nation just revealed its first Covid instances on Thursday, announcing that it was implementing a “maximum emergency epidemic prevention mechanism” after sick individuals in Pyongyang’s capital tested positive for the Omicron form.

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, North Korea has been under a strict coronavirus blockade, but with large Omicron outbreaks in all bordering nations, specialists predicted it was only a matter of time before Covid made its way in.

“A fever whose cause couldn’t be identified explosively spread nationwide from late April,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.

“Six persons died (one of them tested positive for the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron)” it added.

With its 25 million people unvaccinated against Covid, North Korea’s crumbling health infrastructure would struggle to deal with a major outbreak, experts say.

“On May 12 alone, some 18,000 persons with fever occurred nationwide and as of now up to 187,800 people are being isolated and treated,” KCNA said.

Leader Kim Jong Un, who was initially shown wearing a mask on official television, presided over an emergency Politburo meeting on Thursday and ordered nationwide lockdowns in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.

Kim visited the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters on Friday, according to KCNA, and “learned about the widespread spread of Covid-19.”

“It is the most important challenge and supreme task facing our Party to reverse the immediate public health crisis situation at an early date,” KCNA added.

– ‘Major chaos’ –
It is likely that the massive nationwide outbreak is linked to a huge military parade held in Pyongyang on April 25, said Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute.

North Korea was likely to see “major chaos” due to the rapid spread of Omicron, he said, given that the country is currently reporting nearly 20,000 cases in a single day.

“If the death toll from Omicron spikes, Pyongyang may have to ask for China’s support,” he added.

Beijing, Pyongyang’s single major ally and sponsor, indicated on Thursday that it was willing to help with the Covid-19 epidemic in North Korea.

However, China, the world’s only major economy with a zero-Covid policy, is currently dealing with various Omicron outbreaks, with certain major cities, including financial capital Shanghai, under stringent stay-at-home orders.

North Korea previously rejected offers of Covid vaccines from China and the World Health Organization’s Covax programme.

President Yoon Suk-new yeol’s administration in South Korea offered to provide vaccines to North Korea, but stated that it had not yet discussed the matter with Pyongyang.

Kim said Friday that the outbreak of fever “shows that there is a vulnerable point in the epidemic prevention system” and called for more lockdowns.

Kim “said that it is the top priority to block the virus spread by actively locking down areas and isolating and treating persons with fever in a responsible manner”, KCNA reported.

Analysts said China’s experience with Omicron indicated lockdowns might not be successful, but with no antiviral treatment or vaccines, North Korea has few other options.

– Nuclear distraction –
North Korea test-fired three short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul said Thursday — shortly after Pyongyang confirmed its first cases of Covid.

Following the breakdown of high-profile talks in 2019, North Korea has increased its weapons testing, launching a barrage of missiles this year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles.

North Korea is preparing to perform a nuclear test, according to satellite photos, and the US has warned that this may happen as soon as this month.

Some commentators suggested that if Pyongyang requires assistance, like as vaccines and medicine, the test should be postponed, while others worried that the Covid-19 outbreak could speed the process.

“A nuclear test would be a good way to distract the public from the pandemic,” Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, told AFP.