Three months after the alleged outbreak of Covid in North Korea, the regime has declared victory in the fight against the corona virus and named a culprit: South Korea.

North Korea acknowledged the outbreak of the pandemic in North Korea on May 12.

According to the regime, around a fifth of the population has since been infected with the virus and allegedly ruler Kim Jong-un himself.

At least that's what the dictator's sister, Kim Yo-jong, hinted at in a speech, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Patrick Welter

Correspondent for business and politics in Japan based in Tokyo.

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"Respectable comrade" Kim Jong-un solemnly declared victory in the campaign to eradicate the novel coronavirus, KCNA reported on Thursday from a national epidemic control session the previous day.

Photos and a short film of the meeting show thousands of maskless delegates who cried as Kim Yo-jong spoke.

Kim was “severely ill with a high fever during the quarantine war,” the sister indicated that the ruler was infected with Covid.

But he didn't lie down for a second and only thought of the responsibility for the people.

Kim was not shown in public for some time in June and July, which could indicate a Covid quarantine.

Due to a lack of test kits, North Korea had never given specific infection numbers, only speaking of cases of high fever.

About 4.77 million people are said to have shown fever symptoms in the past three months.

North Korea put the number of dead at 74. The regime has not reported any new cases of fever since July 29.

Experts from abroad doubt the numbers, but they cannot be checked in the closed country.

The head of the anti-Covid campaign, Ri Chung-gil, spoke of an "unprecedented miracle" at the meeting.

Kim accuses lazy officials

Kim Yo-jong claimed that the virus was brought to North Korea from the South through leaflets, banknotes and books.

If the enemy continues the dangerous acts and brings the virus to North Korea, "we will not only wipe out these viruses, but also the South Korean rulers," Kim was quoted as saying.

Under the government of conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea is again allowing leaflets to be sent to North Korea in balloons, while his predecessor Moon Jae-in had the activities of activists banned.

North Korea's propaganda leaflets have long been a nuisance.

South Korea responded to Kim's allegations with "great regret at North Korea's arrogant and threatening remarks".

The reunification ministry said the allegations were unfounded.

As far as is known, North Korea has not carried out mass vaccinations.

The state media justified the success with lockdowns in the country, with domestic medicines and with the political and ideological superiority of the Korean-style socialist system.

While Kim declared the end of anti-Covid restrictions, including sweeping restrictions on movement, other measures to protect against the pandemic remain in place.

Reports at the meeting show the anti-Covid campaign has had its difficulties.

Kim himself accused selfish and lazy state officials.

A party representative from the capital Pyongyang described disorder and confusion in mid-May and described how frightened people had broken out of isolation and stormed pharmacies in search of medicines.

Defense Minister Ri Yong-gil accused the military of irresponsibly failing to initiate lockdowns earlier.