North Korea announces lockdown over first suspected case of Covid-19

North Korean authorities have announced lockdown on the border city of Kaesong after witnessing what they call is the country's first suspected case of coronavirus, state media reported on Sunday.

If the suspected case tests positive for the virus, he or she would be North Korea's first confirmed case. The pateint was found in the Kaesong City, which borders with South Korea, and has been put "under strict quarantine." People who had been in contact with the suspected patient and those who had been to Kaesong in the last five days were also quarantined.

As per the report of KCNA, a defector who had left for South Korea three years ago returned on July 19 after "illegally crossing" the heavily fortified border dividing the two countries.

Kim was quoted as saying "the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country", and officials on Friday took the "preemptive measure of totally blocking Kaesong City".

The lockdown was declared on Friday afternoon.

Pyongyang have previously steadfastly said that no case of the novel coronavirus has been reported in the country as they stopped nearly all cross-border traffic, banned foreign tourists and mobilized health workers to quarantine anyone with symptoms.

However, it's the first time the country have announced lockdown since the outbreak of the virus. Meanwhile, foreign experts have said that a coronavirus outbreak in North Korea as the medical infrastructure in the country is woefully inadequate to deal with the crisis.