WHO "Concerned about the emergence of new mutants in North Korea with COVID19 spread"

The WHO (World Health Organization) shows its concern that "the spread of COVID-19 virus infection in North Korea could increase the risk of new mutants appearing."

WHO leader Mike Ryan, the head of the emergency response team, said at a press conference on May 17th (local time) that "If we are not currently taking possible steps, I'm pretty worried", When asked questions about the outbreak of the virus in North Korea.

"WHO has repeatedly emphasized that 'wherever the virus is unmanageably spread, there is always a higher risk of the emergence of new mutants'", he continued.

"We are ready to support how we respond to the spread of North Korea's COVID-19," Ryan added, but "there is no right to interfere with sovereign states."

WHO Secretary-General Tedros also expressed deep concern about the current situation in North Korea, where the virus is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated people.

According to North Korea's state-owned Korean Central News Agency, the cumulative number of deaths due to COVID-19 in North Korea to date has reached 56, and the number of fever cases that have occurred so far has reached more than 1,483,060.

WHO has previously pointed out that "the North Korean authorities, which are members of WHO, have not officially notified the outbreak of the virus" and "this is a clear violation of the legal obligations under the International Health Regulations."