COVID deaths rise in N. Korea under lockdown

SEOUL — North Korea said today 42 people have died as the country began its fourth day under a countrywide lockdown aimed at stopping the impoverished country's first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak.

On Thursday, North Korea acknowledged for the first time a COVID outbreak and ordered the lockdowns. State news agency KCNA said the country was taking “swift state emergency measures” to control the epidemic.

“All provinces, cities and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted,” KCNA reported today.

On Saturday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the spread of COVID-19 had thrust his country into “great turmoil” and called for an all-out battle to overcome the outbreak.

North Korea has reported 820,620 suspected cases, with 324,550 receiving treatment, KCNA said.