SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un killed at least two people, fishing in the sea, under frantic efforts to protect the coronovirus and its economic damage, South Korea’s espionage agency Ordered to ban and close the capital Pyongyang. MPs said on Friday.
Kim’s government ordered diplomats abroad to refrain from any actions that could incite the United States as it fretted about North Korea’s presidential election, Joe Biden’s possible new approach, lawmakers told National Intelligence Told reporters after attending a private briefing by the service.
One of the lawmakers, Ha-ke-kyung, cited the NIS as saying that Kim was displaying “extreme anger” and taking “irrational measures” on the epidemic and its economic impact.
Ha said the NIS told lawmakers that North Korea held the person responsible for the mortgage exchange rate after a high-profile money changer toppled in Pyongyang last month. He quoted NIS as saying that North Korea also killed a key official in August for violating government regulations prohibiting goods brought from abroad. Two people were not identified.
NIS told lawmakers that North Korea has banned sea fishing and salt production in order to infect seawater with the virus.
North Korea recently placed Pyongyang and northern Jangang Province under lockout over virus concerns. Earlier this month, it took lockout measures in other areas where officials found unauthorized goods, Ha quoted NIS as saying.
NIS said North Korea also unsuccessfully attempted hacking at least one South Korean pharmaceutical company, which was trying to develop a coronovirus vaccine.
One of the most secretive nations in the world, the agency has a mixed record to confirm the developments in North Korea.
The NIS said it could not immediately confirm the comments of lawmakers.
North Korea has said that it has not found a single virus case on its soil, a claim that has been disputed by outside experts, although it says it is making all efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus. A major outbreak can have terrible consequences as the North’s health care system remains crippled and suffers from a shortage of medical supplies.
The epidemic forced North Korea to seal the border with China, its largest trading partner and aid donor, in June. The closure has dealt a major blow to the North’s economy, with a series of natural disasters during the summer, which continue to punish US-led sanctions.
The North’s trade with China stood at $ 530 million in the first 10 months of this year, about 25% of the same figure last year. The price of sugar and spice has increased four-fold, Ha said quoting NIS.
North Korea’s watchdog groups in Seoul said the North Korean win-by-dollar exchange rate had fallen significantly recently, as some places for people to use foreign currency after smuggling after the closure of the China border Received
According to the NIS briefing, North Korea ordered foreign diplomatic missions not to come to America’s provocation, warning their ambassadors if their remarks or US-related actions caused any trouble with the relationship with Washington.
North Korea’s government is silent on Biden’s electoral victory over President Donald Trump, with Kim Jong Un holding three unprecedented summits in 2018-19 on the future of the North’s nuclear arsenal. While diplomacy eventually stalled, the meetings still helped Kim and Trump build personal relationships and prevent threats of crude humiliation and destruction that they had previously exchanged.
Lawyer Kim Byung-ki cited the NIS as saying that North Korea is displaying concern as its friendly relations with Trump have become fruitless and it will have to start from scratch in dealing with the incoming Biden administration.
Experts are debating whether North Korea will resume a major missile test soon to try to get Biden’s attention. During previous government changes in the US, North Korea often launched large arms to increase its leverage in future negotiations with the new US administration.
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