The arrival of Covid-19 in North Korea could lead to purges at the head of the country
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un chairs a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party politburo amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 17, 2022, in this photo published on May 18, 2022 by the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
via REUTERS-KCNA
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
This Wednesday, Kim Jong-un openly attacked the leadership of the State and the Party, attributing to them the responsibility for the entry of the virus into the country and opening the door to possible purges.
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With our correspondent in Seoul,
Nicolas Rocca
“
Eradicate the weak links
.
The words of Kim Jong-un, published this Wednesday in the
Rodong Sinmun
, official organ of the Workers' Party, suggest that the pandemic will have lasting consequences on the organization of the regime.
The North Korean leader had already mentioned "
flaws
" in the epidemic control system and had pointed the finger at the prosecutor's office for
its inability to manage drug stocks
.
But this time, during a meeting of the Party in reduced committee, he sent a very clear message.
“ Lax
”
attitude
By criticizing the “ lax
” attitude
and “
the inactivity of the leaders
”, he opens the door to a purge within the authorities of the regime.
Kim Jong-un believes that the health crisis is an opportunity to discern the good from the bad elements in the functioning of the State.
Preparing “
for future threats
”
It is difficult to know if these threats will be carried out when the country is at a critical moment, both in terms of health and security.
At the politburo meeting, Kim Jong-un also stressed the need to prepare "
for future threats
".
A sign perhaps that, as claimed by the United States, an intercontinental ballistic missile test would take place within two to three days, as Joe Biden arrives in South Korea this Friday.
►Also read
: Covid-19: China flies to the aid of North Korea
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