US Claims North Korea Has Issued Shoot to Kill Orders To Stem Coronavirus Spread from China

Pyongyang shut its borders with China in January to contain the spread of the disease contamination, and in July it had ensured utmost security by declaring its state of emergency to the maximum level.

Passengers undergo temperature checks as a preventative measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as they enter the Pyongyang Railway Station in Pyongyang. FILE PIC/AFP.

Washington: In a strong move to contain the spread of coronavirus, North Korean authorities have now issued shoot-to-kill orders on those entering the country from China. As per the global news agency AFP, the commander of US forces in the South has confirmed the development. Also Read: India Registers Highest Single Day Spike Of Over 96K Covid Cases, Total Tally Crosses 45 Lakh Mark For the impoverished nation, whose healthcare system is not so strong, North Korea has not yet confirmed a single case of the disease that has taken the world by storm since the disease first emerged in China, the North's key ally, as per the report. Pyongyang has shut the borders with China in January to contain the spread of the disease contamination, and in July it had ensured utmost security by declaring its state of emergency to the maximum level. The forced shutdown of the border has also led to rise in demand for smuggled goods, prompting authorities to intervene. The report said North Korean SOF (Special Operations Forces) are being posted while strike forces have got the shoot-to-kill orders. As per the Express.Co.Uk report, they would kill anyone within a kilometre of the North Korea-China border regardless of their reason for being there. The border closure had effectively "accelerated the effects" of economic sanctions imposed on the North over its nuclear programs with imports from China plunging 85 percent. The isolated country is already tackling with the aftermath of Typhoon Maysak with more than 2,000 houses being destroyed or inundated as per the state media. As a result, there may not be any major provocations from Pyongyang in the near future, although the country might showcase a new weapons system at next month's celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of Kim Jong Un's ruling party. The nation with a military regime is primarily focused on getting their country recovered and to help mitigate the risk of Covid-19.