Coronavirus: North Korea on alert over first suspected COVID-19 case

Whoever doesn’t wear a mask will be punished with more than three months of disciplinary labour, regardless of who they are, said a North Korean official.

<p>North Korea has reported what it describes as the country's first suspected case of coronavirus</p>

North Korea has reported what it describes as the country's first suspected case of coronavirus

<p>State media said a person who defected to South Korea three years ago last week returned across the demarcation line with COVID-19 symptoms.</p>

State media said a person who defected to South Korea three years ago last week returned across the demarcation line with COVID-19 symptoms.

<h1 itemprop="headline">Leader Kim Jong-un held an emergency meeting with top officials, imposing a lockdown in the border city of Kaesong.<br />&nbsp;</h1>

Leader Kim Jong-un held an emergency meeting with top officials, imposing a lockdown in the border city of Kaesong.

<p>North Korea, a secretive state, had previously not reported any virus cases - but analysts said this was unlikely.</p>

North Korea, a secretive state, had previously not reported any virus cases - but analysts said this was unlikely.

<p>"An emergency event happened in Kaesong city where a runaway who went to the south three years ago - a person who is suspected to have been infected with the vicious virus - returned on 19 July after illegally crossing the demarcation line," news agency KCNA said.</p>

"An emergency event happened in Kaesong city where a runaway who went to the south three years ago - a person who is suspected to have been infected with the vicious virus - returned on 19 July after illegally crossing the demarcation line," news agency KCNA said.

<p>Meanwhile, North Koreans will reportedly be subjected to three months of hard labour for not wearing COVID-19 face masks under tough new rules.<br />&nbsp;</p>

Meanwhile, North Koreans will reportedly be subjected to three months of hard labour for not wearing COVID-19 face masks under tough new rules.

<p>The new measures are part of a push to stop the spread of coronavirus in the secretive country.<br />&nbsp;</p>

The new measures are part of a push to stop the spread of coronavirus in the secretive country.

<p>Students will be recruited to carry out 'face mask patrols' to ensure people are wearing the facial coverings, officials in the country told Radio Free Asia.</p>

Students will be recruited to carry out 'face mask patrols' to ensure people are wearing the facial coverings, officials in the country told Radio Free Asia.

<p>Those who are found without a face mask will have to undergo three months of 'disciplinary labour'.</p>

Those who are found without a face mask will have to undergo three months of 'disciplinary labour'.