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Until now, it is known that North Korea, claiming that there are 0 confirmed cases of new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), has requested a vaccine from the international community.
With this as an opportunity, interest is gathered about whether cooperation between the two Koreas in COVID-19 prevention, health, and vaccines will turn the edge.
On the 4th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that North Korea has requested the World Vaccine Immunization Association (Gavi), a non-governmental organization, for corona 19 vaccine support. Gabi is an international organization leading the’COVAX’ consultative body to distribute the Corona 19 vaccine to low-income countries where it is difficult to develop and purchase their own vaccine.
If these reports are true, it is officially revealed that North Korea needs a corona 19 vaccine, and there is a prospect that the inter-Korean cooperation on Corona 19, which the Korean government has proposed to the North, is receiving momentum.
North Korea claims that there are ‘0 people’ confirmed for Corona 19. Nevertheless, experts analyze that there are fundamental reasons such as the stable management of the Corona 19 situation in North Korea and the end of Corona 19 for the reason North Korea needs a vaccine.
“It seems that North Korea needs a vaccine in order to manage the situation of Corona 19 in North Korea more stably,” said Im-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Far East Research Institute. 19 It will be a request for an end to it,” he explained.
Since last year, the Korean government has repeatedly emphasized cooperation related to South-North Corona 19 health and quarantine vaccines. In particular, controversy arose about the mention of’vaccine sharing’ between the two Koreas in a situation where a vaccine was not secured by our side.
Unification Minister Lee In-young said in an interview with KBS in November, “If we can cooperate with each other through (Corona 19) treatments and vaccines, it will be an opportunity for North Korea to escape from the economic sacrifices due to the quarantine system.” When we share, I think it’s more real to share.”
In this regard, some believe that inter-Korean relations can gain momentum as the Corona 19 situation stabilizes through vaccines. On the other hand, some analyzes say that it will take time for North Korea to directly respond to the South Korean proposal.
Han-beom Cho, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, commented on the part where the Chairman of the State Council Kim Jong-un said at the opening ceremony on the founding day of the Labor Party on October 10, “I hope that the day when the health crisis will be overcome and the North and South will meet again. “From a mid- to long-term perspective, North Korea has a will to improve inter-Korean relations after the Corona 19 crisis has been overcome,” he said. After the situation stabilizes through the Corona 19 vaccine, it is putting weight on the possibility of improving inter-Korean relations.
However, some analyzes that even though there have been suggestions from our side so far, the intention of North Korea can be known from the part of requesting assistance from the international community rather than responding to our proposal. It is a view that North Korea wants vaccines from the international community rather than our vaccines, as it could lead to political issues between the two Koreas beyond humanitarian issues if we get a vaccine from our side.
When asked if it was true that North Korea requested Gabi to provide a vaccine for Corona 19 on the day, the Ministry of Unification spared a word, saying, “The relevant information is a matter to be confirmed by the relevant international organization.” However, he added, “We will pay close attention to related trends.”
On the other hand, President Moon said at this year’s first cabinet meeting, “We will be able to respond in earnest through vaccines and treatments from next month. We will start vaccination as early as next month.” I can.” In addition, he explained that the development of a domestic treatment was also “entered into the field of view by applying for conditional use approval.”
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