North Korean state media stressed this week that the epidemic situation has “stabilized,” reporting fewer and fewer suspected COVID-19 cases around the country and none at all in some regions. 

But propagandists still urged people against omicron variants and seasonal ailments like intestinal disease.

As a key holiday marking the end of the Korean War approaches, state media allocated significant space to covering veterans’ accounts of the conflict and the military feats of Kim Il Sung. It strongly urged young North Koreans to emulate the veteran’s absolute loyalty to the country’s leader.[/p