조선로동당 중앙위원회 제8기 제5차 전원회의에서 언급된 방역 정책

LINK: https://www.rfa.org/korean/news_indepth/humanitarianaid-06162022101411.html

[기자] 최근 (8~10일) 열린 노동당 중앙위원회 제8기 제5차 전원회의 확대 회의에서 보건, 방역 부분에 관해 새로운 언급이 있었나요?

[안경수 센터장] 네 가지 정도의 안건이 상정됐는데요, 그 중 세 번째가 비상 방역 상황관리, 국가방역 능력에 관한 내용이었습니다. 지금 코로나 상황에 대해서 중대 고비를 지나 봉쇄 위기의 방역으로부터 봉쇄와 박멸 투쟁, 즉 치료까지 하는 새로운 단계에 접어들었다고 이야기하는데요. 항상 우리가 듣던 이야기입니다. 국가방역사업을 정확하게 내다보고, 심화되고 발전되는 방역 정책을 실시하자는 건데요. 

여기서 강조되는 단어가 몇 개 있습니다. ‘과학성’, ‘선진’, ‘엄격성’을 강조하고 있는데요. 원론적인 내용이죠. 북한답게 사상동원사업도 강조하고 있습니다. 예를 들어, ‘우리의 방역은 그 어떤 제도적 장치나 물질, 기술적 수단보다는 인민들의 자각적 일치성을 기반으로 하는 방역이다, 그래야만 대승을 이룩할 수 있다’고 말하고 있습니다. 결국, 과학적이고 선진적이고 엄격성을 강조하는 방역에 북한답게 사상적인 동원을 강조하고 있는 거죠.

[기자] 그렇군요. 북한 당국이 ‘선진적인 방역’, ‘과학적인 방역’을 계속 강조해오지 않았습니까. 새로운 부분은 딱히 없는 걸로 보이는데요.

[안경수 센터장] 깔끔하게 과학과 사상을 합쳐 ‘국가방역 능력’이라는 큰 틀을 만들어 제시했다고 볼 수 있습니다. 진화된 부분은 ‘국가방역 능력을 건설하자’. 즉 장기적, 총체적, 종합적으로 능력을 건설하자는 틀을 만들었습니다. 보건 위기를 안정적으로 억제, 관리, 해소할 수 있는 공고화된 사업 체계와 질서, 기술적 역량, 물질적 토대 등을 건설하자는 겁니다.

[Washington Post] As nuclear test looms, North Korea reports intestinal epidemic

LINK: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/17/north-korea-nuclear-intestinal-epidemic/

Meanwhile, North Korea’s Central News Agency reported Thursday on an outbreak of the “acute enteric epidemic,” without naming the disease or giving a caseload. The term enteric refers to the gastrointestinal tract, and observers said the disease could be an intestinal illness like typhoid and cholera.

The announcement, though concerning, does not necessarily indicate a worsening public health crisis, according to Ahn Kyung-su, from the Seoul-based research center dprkhealth.org.

Waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid were rampant in North Korea before the announcement of the country’s first coronavirus infection. Ahn said the outbreak of intestinal disease is not an uncommon situation given the country’s poor health and sanitary conditions.

“The recent state media reports about the outbreak could be a politically motivated one to demonstrate leader Kim Jong Un’s efforts for his people,” Ahn said.

North Korean state media reported that Kim is distributing medical aid as part of “his noble outlook on devoted service for the people’s well-being.”

Still, the outbreak probably complicates matters for the regime, which is already fighting a coronavirus outbreak amid growing economic woes and a chronic shortage of vaccines and medicines.

[AP] N. Korea reports another disease outbreak amid COVID-19 wave

LINK: https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-government-and-politics-disease-outbreaks-climate-environment-eea9f8418796546ce046102a71cde0c6

In a country where power is concentrated is the hands of a small ruling elite and hospitals often lack even basic supplies, defectors say it’s common for anyone who can to keep stocks of medicine in their homes — and senior officials are typically able to stockpile more than ordinary citizens. Observers also said the donated medicine may have simply come from state storage facilities but was distributed in Kim’s name.

“The outbreak of measles or typhoid isn’t uncommon in North Korea. I think it’s true there is an outbreak of an infectious disease there, but North Korea is using it as an opportunity to emphasize that Kim is caring for his people,” said Ahn Kyung-su, head of DPRKHEALTH.ORG, a website focusing on health issues in North Korea. “So it’s more like a political message than medical one.”

[AP] Widespread disbelief over N. Korea’s tiny COVID death rate

LINK: https://apnews.com/article/covid-politics-health-epidemics-death-rates-2bd7ae2269b6a1b8a26f4095991a9a08

“North Korea could spend a couple more months massaging the statistics, but they could also abruptly announce their victory this weekend,” said Ahn Kyung-su, head of DPRKHEALTH.ORG, a website focusing on health issues in North Korea. “North Korea always operates beyond your imagination. It’s hard to predict what they’ll do, but they do have a plan.”