China offers to help North Korea fight coronavirus as Kim Jong-un returns to public view

Pyongyang has not officially recorded any cases of disease, but Xi Jinping tells his counterpart that Beijing is ready to help contain the spread of Covid-19

North Korean leader’s failure to appear at major political event last month sparked a flurry of rumours about his health and whereabouts

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Xi Jinping pictured with Kim Jong-un during the Chinese leader’s visit to Pyongyang last year. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:30pm, 9 May 2020Updated: 10:48pm, 9 May 2020

China has told North Korea it is willing to help contain the spread of Covid-19 in a note from President Xi Jinping to his counterpart Kim Jong-un.

Xi’s message follows recent rumours about Kim’s health after he failed to appear at a major political event and speculation about the possible spread of the disease in the North, even though it has not reported any cases.

Xi said he was very concerned about the situation in North Korea and the health of its people, and said he was pleased that its efforts to control the respiratory illness had achieved positive results.

State news agency Xinhua reported that Xi had said: “China is willing to step up cooperation to contain the pandemic with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and provide assistance to the DPRK.

“With the joint efforts of both China and the DPRK and the international community, the final victory in this fight against epidemic will be achieved”.

Xi also said China attached serious importance to relations with North Korea, and would work with Kim to deepen communication and cooperation.