GENEVA/SEOUL — The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it had no indications the new coronavirus had spread to The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Aid agencies have called for exceptions to be made to international trading sanctions to make it easier if needed to help Pyongyang fight the disease.

At the moment there are no signals, there are no indications we are dealing with any COVID-19 there

Dr Mike Ryan, Head of WHO’s emergencies programme

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“At the moment there are no signals, there are no indications we are dealing with any COVID-19 there,” Dr Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s emergencies programme, told a news conference in Geneva on Tuesday.

WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said that the DPRK had reported making checks on nearly 7,300 travellers entering the country over a six-week period to Feb 9. Citing the DPRK’s health ministry, he said 141 travellers with fevers had been tested for the virus and all had tested negative.

The DPRK and WHO officials were due to meet in Geneva later to discuss preparedness. Jasarevic said the WHO will provide the DPRK with supplies including laboratory reagents for tests and protective equipment such as goggles, gloves, masks and gowns for health workers.

Some the Republic of Korea (ROK) media outlets have reported cases and possible deaths from the virus in the DPRK, which the North denies. On Tuesday, Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of DPRK’s ruling party, quoted a public health official reiterating “no confirmed case of the new coronavirus so far”.

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Last week, the US State Department said it was deeply concerned about the possible impact of a coronavirus outbreak in the DPRK and was ready to facilitate US and international organisations helping contain the virus there.

The DPRK has stopped flights and train services with its neighbours, established month-long mandatory quarantines, suspended international tourism and imposed a near-complete lockdown on cross-border travel.

“The government is very anxious as you can imagine, as all governments are, to make preparations and are seeking our technical and operational assistance to help them get ready,” Ryan said.