North Korea declares emergency over suspected COVID-19 case

North Korea reported its first case of suspected COVID-19, in a person who returned to the country on July 19, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday.

If confirmed, it would be the first case officially acknowledged by North Korean authorities.

"An emergency event happened in Kaesong City where a runaway who went to the south three years ago, a person who is suspected to have been infected with the vicious virus returned on July 19 after illegally crossing the demarcation line," KCNA said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un convened an emergency politburo meeting in response to what he called a "critical situation in which the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country", the news agency added.

KCNA did not say if the person had been tested, but said an "uncertain result was made from several medical check-ups of the secretion of that person's upper respiratory organ and blood", prompting officials to quarantine the person and investigate anyone he may have been in contact with.

One analyst said the announcement was important, not only because North Korea was for the first time reporting a suspected coronavirus case but also because it suggested it was appealing for help.

"It's an ice-breaking moment for North Korea to admit a case," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor at Kyung Hee University.

"It could be reaching out to the world for help. Perhaps for humanitarian assistance."

North Korea is under huge economic pressure because of international sanctions over its nuclear programme.

KCNA did not elaborate on how the "runaway" had crossed one of the world's most heavily guarded borders but said the incident was being investigated and the military unit responsible would face "severe punishment".

South Korean officials were checking to see if a defector had indeed crossed back into the North this month, the South's Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea has received thousands of coronavirus testing kits from Russia and other countries and imposed strict border closures.

Thousands of people in the country were also quarantined as it took precautions to prevent a coronavirus outbreak but restrictions had recently been eased.