North Korean claims for zero virus cases met with skepticism

Senior US military officials in South Korea have called out the North Korea over its claims that "not a single person" in the country has been infected with the Covid-19 virus.

The claim is facing growing scepticism as the virus is raging across the globe, however, North Korea said that the success of zero cases was due to the strict containment measures and the shutting down of its borders. The top US military commander in South Korea however, has other ideas as he said this is "untrue", and adding that it is an "impossible claim".

Experts have stated that there were cases most likely in the secretive country but unlikely a mass outbreak had happened.

Pak Myong-su, a director at North Korea's Central Emergency Anti-epidemic headquarters, had told news agency AFP on Friday that "Not one single person has been infected with the novel coronavirus in our country so far."

"We have carried out pre-emptive and scientific measures such as inspections and quarantine for all personnel entering our country and thoroughly disinfecting all goods, as well as closing borders and blocking sea and air lanes."

The number of virus cases in the world had risen to more than one million last night and 53,069 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally, has been reported.