North Korea needs to publicly admit there is a coronavirus outbreak inside its borders and officially ask the international community for help fighting COVID-19 before any sanctions are lifted, experts said.“North Korea has not even acknowledged a single case of coronavirus,” said Christopher Hill, a chief U.S. negotiator with North Korea during the George W. Bush administration. “Until [the North Koreans] acknowledge that they have a problem, I cannot see any relaxation of sanctions.”North Korea has not publicly reported any confirmed cases of COVID-19. But the regime has taken measures to contain the virus, including Workers of the Ryongaksan Soap Factory make disinfectants in Pyongyang, North Korea, March 19, 2020.North Korea’s all-out efforts against the virus raised speculation that a possible outbreak has occurred in the country that shares a porous border with China, where the virus originated in Wuhan.The Financial Times reported Thursday that North Korea FILE — In this file photo taken on June 30, 2019, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a meeting on the south side of the Military Demarcation Line that divides North and South Korea.Michelle Bachelet, U.N. high commissioner for human rights, on Tuesday People wear masks to protect from a new coronavirus as they walk through the Kwangbok Street in Pyongyang, North Korea, Feb. 26, 2020.“Although North Korea says [it’s] not affected … those sanctions should be lifted,” said DeTrani.During an interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show on Thursday, Pompeo said the U.S offered assistance for battling the coronavirus to countries like North Korea, Iran and Venezuela.“In countries like Venezuela — North Korea would be in a similar situation — we’re doing our best to ensure that humanitarian assistance can make its way,” said Pompeo. “In some of these countries, when humanitarian assistance is offered — we have offered assistance for Iran — they’ll often reject it.”In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s official state media, on Sunday, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said U.S. President Donald Trump sent a personal letter offering “anti-epidemic” help.She has not given any concrete reply to the offer but only welcomed the letter as “a good judgment and proper action for the U.S. president.”  She also said it is not good to make a “hasty conclusion” that a close relationship between Trump and Kim could lead to improved relations between the two countries.Although the two leaders have been exchanging letters, nuclear talks have been deadlocked since October, when the working-level talks in Stockholm collapsed because of their differing demands. Since then, Washington has offered to resume the working-level talks, but Pyongyang has not responded to the offer.Christy Lee contributed to this report from the VOA Korean service.
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