North Korea is lifting its maximum anti-epidemic measures, state news agency KCNA reported on Thursday, announcing that the country's dictator Kim Jong Un had declared victory over the virus. Kim Jong Un hailed these unverifiable figures as "an unprecedented miracle," according to KCNA. North Korean health officials, however, have been claiming a slowing outbreak for weeks, saying there were no suspected COVID cases since late July. She said her brother Kim Jong Un had had fever symptoms, the first North Korean indication that Kim was believed to have contracted the virus.The state agency also cited the dictator's sister, Kim Yo Jong, as saying that the outbreak had started due to leaflets entering the country from South Korea. South Korea's Unification Ministry, responsible for inter-Korean affairs, expressed regret over North Korea's claims, saying North Korea repeatedly made "groundless claims over the route of the COVID" that were "very disrespectful and threatening remarks."

Source: The North Africa Journal August 10, 2022 23:06 UTC