North Korea imported millions of masks and 1,000 ventilators from China in the months leading up to its COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese trade data released this month shows. But medical experts told NK News on Monday that those imports were likely inadequate for responding to the still-unfolding crisis.
Dr. Peter Collignon, an infectious disease physician at Canberra Hospital who has served on expert committees with the World Health Organization (WHO), pointed out ventilators require skilled manpower to use, something that’s harder to come by outside of Pyongyang.
North Korea imported millions of masks and 1,000 ventilators from China in the months leading up to its COVID-19 outbreak, Chinese trade data released this month shows. But medical experts told NK News on Monday that those imports were likely inadequate for responding to the still-unfolding crisis.
Dr. Peter Collignon, an infectious disease physician at Canberra Hospital who has served on expert committees with the World Health Organization (WHO), pointed out ventilators require skilled manpower to use, something that’s harder to come by outside of Pyongyang.
Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks
-
Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations,
analysis
-
Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
-
The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in
the loop
-
Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
-
Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting,
investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe
now
All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.
SHARE
COPY LINK
X
MASTODON
