Now South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has ordered at least two people executed, banned fishing at sea and locked down the capital, Pyongyang, as part of extreme efforts to guard against the coronavirus and its economic damage. This comes after the South Korean lawmakers attended a private meeting by the spy agency National Intelligence Service(NIS) .

The agency further stated that Kim Jong-Un-led government has also directed the diplomats overseas to avoid doing anything that could provoke the United States as the supreme leader is worried about President-elect Joe Biden’s approach towards North Korea.

One of the lawmakers, Ha Tae-Kung, further added that according to NIS Kim is displaying “excessive anger” and taking “irrational measures” over the pandemic and its economic impact.

A high-profile money changer from Pyongyang was executed in North Korea last month after being held responsible for a slight decrease in exchange rate. Further, a key official was also executed in August for reportedly violating government rules that restrict goods brought from abroad.

North Korean also banned fishing and salt production at sea to prevent sea water from being infected with the virus. However, there is no information about whether the ban applied to all North Korean waters or whether it was still in effect.

NIS also said that North Korea also made a hacking attempt on at least one South Korean pharmaceutical company that was trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine, though it was unsuccessful.

Recently,North Korea imposed lockdown in Pyongang and Northern Jagang province in November. The COVID-19 lockdown was further extended to several areas of North Korea where unauthorised goods and foreign currencies were found.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in January , North Korea was forced to seal the border with its major trading partners and aid benefactor, China. North Korea and China’s trade has dropped drastically as compared to 2019 as it has totalled to about $530 million which just 25% of last years figures. A lawmaker also quoted the NIS saying that the sugar and seasoning price in North Korea has shot up four times.

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As Kim Jong-un is fighting for his life, his sister Kim Yo-Jong will be soon throned to power as the North Korean supreme leader. Recently, it has been claimed that Kim Jong-un has delegated several of his powers to his sister to reduce stress.

In the meantime, Roy Calley, a journalist who shares close connections with Pyongyang has claimed that Kim Jong-un could already be dead. Calley made these remarks while talking exclusively to Express.co.uk.

” I honestly believe he’s dead but you just can’t tell with that country. The fact that there is so much information /misinformation being released suggests there is something happening. With everything else the government is very specific with their statements but never when it comes to the leaders,” said Calley.

This is not the first time that uncertainties regarding Kim Jong-un’s health is puzzling global political experts. A few months back, Reuters had reported that Kim Jong-un was seriously ill following a failed cardiac procedure. Kim, at that time, did not attend the 108th birthday celebrations of his late grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, and it made many believe that something is not well with the supreme leader.

However, a few days later, Kim made a public appearance in a fertilizer factory near Pyongyang. Later, South Korean government officials also admitted that there was no indication of a medical procedure conducted on Kim’s body.

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The decision to postpone plans for military action against the South was brought up by the leader during a virtual meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).It said that other talks including bolstering the country’s “war deterrent ” was discussed. Analysts say North Korea after weeks of raising tensions is just trying to make room for South Korean concessions.

Yoh Sang-key, spokesman of South Korea’s Unification Ministry, said Seoul was closely considering the prevailing situation but didn’t further elaborate details. Yoh also said this was the first report in state media of Kim holding a video conferencing meeting, but he didn’t provide a clear answer on whether that would have something to do with the coronavirus.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Kim’s decision to hold back military action would affect the country’s plans for leafleting. The North’s military had said it would open border areas on land and sea and provide protection for civilians involved in the leafleting campaigns.

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