North Korea faces fight for ‘national existence’ if coronavirus hits crumbling country

NORTH Korea could face a "fight for existence" if coronavirus hits the country due to a shortage of vital resources and healthcare.

The Hermit State borders onto mainland China - meaning the risk of the virus making its way into the country, which has a chronic lack of medical supplies, remains high.

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The US, among other countries, say they are ready to support aid organisations to contain the deadly disease, which has so far claimed 1,527 lives globally.

There are no official cases of the virus in North Korea - but one of South Korea’s largest newspapers, Chosun Ilbo, has reported at least two suspected cases.

However, the impoverished country was one of the first to block foreign tourists in response to the outbreak of Covid-19.

Official state media described the fight against the illness as a matter of ‘national existence’.

Cross-border traffic has been shut down, foreign tourists banned, and screening at airports, harbours and land borders intensified.

A 2010 report by Amnesty International called ‘The crumbling state of healthcare in North Korea’ found the country’s healthcare system suffered from severe shortages of medicine and supplies.

US state department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said: ‘We strongly support and encourage the work of US and international aid and health organisations to counter and contain the spread of coronavirus in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

"The United States is ready and prepared to expeditiously facilitate the approval of assistance from these organisations."

The Korean Central News Agency said: "All the institutions and fields of the state and foreigners staying in the DPRK should obey it unconditionally.

"The spread of the epidemic comes to be a serious problem with the possibility of international disaster."

South Korea has reported 28 cases of the virus to date.

According to reports, earlier in February a man suspected of being infected was 'executed' after he left his home to go to a public bath.

Kim Jong-un has reportedly imposed military law to enforce a lockdown to combat the virus - despite the country not experiencing any confirmed cases.