We don’t know how many people are infected with Covid-19 in North Korea.     But, in  South Korea there are over 7,000 cases reported.   The problem in North Korea is there is also a tuberculosis epidemic and the quarantines are stopping vital medications to treat TB.    TB is curable and preventable.  This is from the World Health Organization website:

A total of 1.5 million people died from TB in 2018 (including 251 000 people with HIV). Worldwide, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause from a single infectious agent (above HIV/AIDS).
In 2018, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with tuberculosis(TB) worldwide. 5.7 million men, 3.2 million women and 1.1 million children. There were cases in all countries and age groups. But TB is curable and preventable.  In 2018, 1.1 million children fell ill with TB globally, and there were 205 000 child deaths due to TB (including among children with HIV). Child and adolescent TB is often overlooked by health providers and can be difficult to diagnose and treat.

There is a multiple drug resistant form, called MDR-TB which requires taking several drugs in combination.   See links below from Mayo Clinic.

I’ve said it before, that globalism v.  nationalism in many cases isn’t a choice, because global problems requires global solutions.    The old adage, “What goes around, comes around” is really true now.   The cases in the US are increasing, hitting a new high of 80 cases/day.

See links below.

Stay tuned,

Dave

Links:

Science Mag: Coronavirus disruptions could hurt North Korea’s efforts to treat tuberculosis

World Health Organization:  Tuberculosis

Mayo Clinic Tuberculosis