<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un replaced several senior officials after a "crucial" coronavirus incident, state media reported Wednesday, in what analysts said was a signal the disease had breached its defences.</p>.<p>Pyongyang closed its borders in January last year to try to protect itself against the virus that first emerged in neighbouring China and has gone on to sweep the world.</p>.<p>It has not publicly confirmed any cases of the disease at any point, neither in state media nor in the test statistics it has disclosed to the World Health Organization.</p>.<p>But analysts said the latest development was a clear indication there had been infections in the isolated country, which is under international sanctions for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/north-koreas-history-of-secrecy-over-leaders-health-1002366.html" target="_blank">Read | North Korea's history of secrecy over leaders' health</a></strong></p>.<p>Officials had neglected their duties and caused a "crucial" incident, "creating a great crisis in ensuring the security of the state and safety of the people and entailed grave consequences", Kim told a politburo meeting, according to the state Korean Central News Agency.</p>.<p>It did not specify any details of what had happened.</p>.<p>But Kim added that cadres' "lack of ability and irresponsibility" had hindered the implementation of important tasks, accusing them of "self-protectionism and passiveness".</p>.<p>The impoverished country's ramshackle health system and lack of medical supplies would leave it struggling to cope with a major Covid-19 outbreak.</p>.<p>Members of the presidium of the politburo -- the highest decision-making body of the ruling Workers' Party -- and the politburo were recalled and new ones named at the meeting on Tuesday, KCNA reported, adding that government officials were "transferred and appointed".</p>.<p>The KCNA dispatch "basically means North Korea has confirmed cases", defector-turned-researcher Ahn Chan-il told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"The fact that the politburo discussed this, and that the KCNA reported about it, signals Pyongyang is probably in need of international aid," he said.</p>.<p>"Otherwise they would not have done this as it inevitably involves acknowledging the regime's own failure in its anti-epidemic efforts."</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/us-has-wrong-expectation-for-north-korea-dialogue-kims-sister-1000491.html" target="_blank">Read | US has wrong expectation for North Korea dialogue: Kim's sister</a></strong></p>.<p>Ever since the pandemic began, North Korean state media have highlighted anti-coronavirus efforts and officials have exhorted the people to remain vigilant.</p>.<p>Leader Kim himself tearfully thanked his people for not having had any cases at a military parade in October, although analysts have long doubted the assertion.</p>.<p>And Pyongyang's coronavirus defence has come at a high price.</p>.<p>Its self-imposed and strictly enforced blockade has left it more isolated than ever: trade with Beijing -- its economic lifeline -- slowed to a trickle while all international aid workers have left.</p>.<p>Several UN relief groups confirmed to <em>AFP </em>that the Needs and Priorities document -- a key report that summarises the humanitarian situation in the country and forms the basis of UN appeals -- will not be published this year.</p>.<p>And this month, Pyongyang admitted it was tackling a food crisis, sounding the alarm in a nation with a moribund agricultural sector that has long struggled to feed itself.</p>.<p>Earlier, Kim warned his people to prepare for the "worst-ever situation".</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/kim-jong-un-emaciated-north-koreans-heartbroken-state-television-1002350.html" target="_blank">Read | Kim Jong Un 'emaciated', North Koreans heartbroken: State television</a></strong></p>.<p>Pyongyang has been looking to shore up loyalty to the authorities, with state television last week showing a resident of the capital expressing concern and saying everyone was "heartbroken" over the "emaciated" condition of Kim, who has lost significant weight in recent weeks.</p>.<p>Analysts say Pyongyang is using Kim's appearance as a way to glorify him by portraying him as a "devoted, hardworking" leader as the country struggles to tackle its food crisis and other challenges.</p>.<p>In recent months, Kim has issued a series of lengthy letters to regime organisations such as the Youth League and the trade union federation exhorting them to pursue "loyalty and patriotism".</p>.<p>At the same time, authorities have mounted a campaign against "criminal" youths tarnished by foreign influences that are "dangerous poisons" to state ideology, according to KCNA.</p>
<p>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un replaced several senior officials after a "crucial" coronavirus incident, state media reported Wednesday, in what analysts said was a signal the disease had breached its defences.</p>.<p>Pyongyang closed its borders in January last year to try to protect itself against the virus that first emerged in neighbouring China and has gone on to sweep the world.</p>.<p>It has not publicly confirmed any cases of the disease at any point, neither in state media nor in the test statistics it has disclosed to the World Health Organization.</p>.<p>But analysts said the latest development was a clear indication there had been infections in the isolated country, which is under international sanctions for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/north-koreas-history-of-secrecy-over-leaders-health-1002366.html" target="_blank">Read | North Korea's history of secrecy over leaders' health</a></strong></p>.<p>Officials had neglected their duties and caused a "crucial" incident, "creating a great crisis in ensuring the security of the state and safety of the people and entailed grave consequences", Kim told a politburo meeting, according to the state Korean Central News Agency.</p>.<p>It did not specify any details of what had happened.</p>.<p>But Kim added that cadres' "lack of ability and irresponsibility" had hindered the implementation of important tasks, accusing them of "self-protectionism and passiveness".</p>.<p>The impoverished country's ramshackle health system and lack of medical supplies would leave it struggling to cope with a major Covid-19 outbreak.</p>.<p>Members of the presidium of the politburo -- the highest decision-making body of the ruling Workers' Party -- and the politburo were recalled and new ones named at the meeting on Tuesday, KCNA reported, adding that government officials were "transferred and appointed".</p>.<p>The KCNA dispatch "basically means North Korea has confirmed cases", defector-turned-researcher Ahn Chan-il told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"The fact that the politburo discussed this, and that the KCNA reported about it, signals Pyongyang is probably in need of international aid," he said.</p>.<p>"Otherwise they would not have done this as it inevitably involves acknowledging the regime's own failure in its anti-epidemic efforts."</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/us-has-wrong-expectation-for-north-korea-dialogue-kims-sister-1000491.html" target="_blank">Read | US has wrong expectation for North Korea dialogue: Kim's sister</a></strong></p>.<p>Ever since the pandemic began, North Korean state media have highlighted anti-coronavirus efforts and officials have exhorted the people to remain vigilant.</p>.<p>Leader Kim himself tearfully thanked his people for not having had any cases at a military parade in October, although analysts have long doubted the assertion.</p>.<p>And Pyongyang's coronavirus defence has come at a high price.</p>.<p>Its self-imposed and strictly enforced blockade has left it more isolated than ever: trade with Beijing -- its economic lifeline -- slowed to a trickle while all international aid workers have left.</p>.<p>Several UN relief groups confirmed to <em>AFP </em>that the Needs and Priorities document -- a key report that summarises the humanitarian situation in the country and forms the basis of UN appeals -- will not be published this year.</p>.<p>And this month, Pyongyang admitted it was tackling a food crisis, sounding the alarm in a nation with a moribund agricultural sector that has long struggled to feed itself.</p>.<p>Earlier, Kim warned his people to prepare for the "worst-ever situation".</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/kim-jong-un-emaciated-north-koreans-heartbroken-state-television-1002350.html" target="_blank">Read | Kim Jong Un 'emaciated', North Koreans heartbroken: State television</a></strong></p>.<p>Pyongyang has been looking to shore up loyalty to the authorities, with state television last week showing a resident of the capital expressing concern and saying everyone was "heartbroken" over the "emaciated" condition of Kim, who has lost significant weight in recent weeks.</p>.<p>Analysts say Pyongyang is using Kim's appearance as a way to glorify him by portraying him as a "devoted, hardworking" leader as the country struggles to tackle its food crisis and other challenges.</p>.<p>In recent months, Kim has issued a series of lengthy letters to regime organisations such as the Youth League and the trade union federation exhorting them to pursue "loyalty and patriotism".</p>.<p>At the same time, authorities have mounted a campaign against "criminal" youths tarnished by foreign influences that are "dangerous poisons" to state ideology, according to KCNA.</p>