Two North Koreans have been relocated to Pyongyang after their research on medicine and a vaccine for COVID-19 showed results. They had been working at Nanam Pharmaceutical Factory in Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, and are now in Pyongyang with their families.
A source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Aug. 27 that “a researcher and a pharmacist who had been researching a vaccine and drugs to treat the coronavirus at Nanam Pharmaceutical Factory were recently summoned to Pyongyang.”
According to the source, this action was taken after the central government, embroiled in efforts to deal with COVID-19 internally, became aware of a report that a pharmacist and researcher at Nanam Pharmaceutical Factory had recently produced results in their respective areas.
The source explained that North Korean authorities were impressed with the outcome of their research on technology to produce medical supplies domestically, and the two will now continue their research in Pyongyang.
According to the source, the authorities “deemed that the vaccine and medicine they discovered and produced were developed according to ‘our style.’ Equipped with the material and technological foundations of our independent self-sufficiency, they performed necessary work to treat and prevent the pandemic based on our nation’s raw materials and medicines and our research techniques.”
After being relocated to Pyongyang, the two scientists – both men in their early 40s – were immediately assigned to the head of the Pharmacology Research Center at the Central Medical Research Institute. The government has also issued a directive for “unconditional support” to be given to their work.
The government has also reportedly issued identification to the scientists and their entire families that make them official residents of Pyongyang.
“Only married couples have been moved together up until now, but in this case their entire families are living in Pyongyang and the government has even guaranteed their living conditions,” the source said. “This is so unusual it has even become a topic of conversation among locals.”
Meanwhile, the human resources department of the North Hamgyong Province Party Committee has spread the word about the move of the two scientists and their families to Pyongyang. Specifically, the department has said that “anyone who has ability and talent and is equipped with loyalty and patriotism toward the party can not only live in Pyongyang, but can also receive the benefits of the party at any time.”
The source further reported that the provincial party issued a message saying: “If any person, even if they are just a laborer, produces results and achieves innovation at their post while remaining loyal to the party to the end, the party will take responsibility for their families too.” The message further noted that: “Let’s put our all into answering the call of the party and throw ourselves into the fight.”
