North Korea and seven other member states have requested the UN push for the full lifting of unilateral sanctions against them, a letter signed by the countries showed Thursday, arguing that the measures hinder their ability to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

While not naming the U.S., the note sees the DPRK, as well as Cuba, China, Syria, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, and Venezuela urge UN Secretary General António Guterres to push for the "immediate lifting" of "coercive measures" that hamper efforts to fight the coronavirus.