Mick Hartley

South Korea is one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus. The finger is pointing now at the secretive Shincheonji sect. Apparently some 42 sect members visited Wuhan from July last year to February this year, according to a search of the travel records of 244,743 followers. The sect at first denied this, claiming it was being persecuted, but the leader has now come out of hiding and has apologised:

The leader of a secretive South Korean sect linked to more than half the country's 4,000-plus coronavirus cases apologised Monday (March 2) for the spread of the disease.

Shincheonji head Lee Man-hee's plea for forgiveness came after Seoul city authorities filed a murder complaint against him for failing to cooperate in containing the epidemic.

South Korea's case numbers — the largest total anywhere outside China — are expected to rise further as authorities carry out checks on more than 266,000 people associated with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often condemned as a cult.

"I would like to offer my sincere apology to the people," said Lee, his voice breaking.

"Although it was not intentional, many people have been infected," the 88-year-old said, twice getting to his knees to bow before reporters in Gapyeong, his head to the floor.

"I seek the forgiveness of the people."

"I am very thankful to the government for its efforts," he added.

"I also seek the forgiveness of the government."

Lee is revered by his followers as the "Promised Pastor" who has taken on the mantle of Jesus Christ and will take 144,000 people with him to heaven on the Day of Judgement, which he will usher in within his own lifetime.

A 61-year-old female member developed a fever on Feb 10 but attended at least four church services in Daegu — the country's fourth-largest city with a population of 2.5 million and the centre of the outbreak — before being diagnosed.

At services Shincheonji members sit close together on the floor and pray extensively in what critics say creates an ideal environment to spread viral infections.

As we've seen, information from North Korea is hard to come by. Official news sources are full of information about the noble efforts of the people to battle the virus – inspired, of course, by the heroic example of the Supreme Commander – but they continue to deny that there are any cases.

Here's a report from the Daily NK today – the best place to look for accurate news from the North:

While North Korean authorities insist via state media that there are no people infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, Daily NK has received information suggesting that more than twenty people have died under suspicious circumstances nationwide since January. 

Internally, sources say that the authorities are keeping statistics about people who have died with related symptoms or who are being quarantined, but that the information is being kept secret.

“North Korea’s central emergency disease control command statistics show that 23 people have died of acute pneumonia between January and now,” a high-level government source in North Korea told Daily NK on Feb. 27. “This is the result of counting everyone who died after developing a high fever, cough, and severe respiratory difficulties.”

A total of 82 people with similar symptoms have been quarantined across all regions,” he continued, adding, “Some have been discharged after their symptoms eased, but new patients have continuously arisen.”

According to statistics conveyed by the source, the number of deaths by region as of February 25 was seven in Pyongyang, eight in Sinuiju and four in nearby Ryongchon, both in North Pyongan Province, and two each in the northeastern city of Raseon and Haeju in the southwest. The 82 quarantined includes 16 patients in Pyongyang, 32 in Sinuiju, 12 in Ryongcheon, 15 in Raseon, and seven in Haeju.

With the notable exceptions of Pyongyang and Haeju, the remaining locations are all in the border region abutting China, the epicenter of the virus. The North Korean health authorities believe that in the case of Pyongyang, the virus was spread by Chinese foreign students, and in the case of Haeju by traders travelling to and from the border.

In a country like North Korea, with so many living in poverty, and a hopelessly antiquated and inefficient system of health care for those outside the Pyongyang elite, an outbreak could quickly turn very serious indeed.