The United Nations has raised 1.3 million to assist North Korea's efforts to prevent the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
A report by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs showed on Friday that the amount raised as of a tally on Wednesday represented some 3 percent of 39.7 million dollars estimated to be required to support the North's antivirus campaign.
The report also said some 900,000 dollars in aid had already been sent.
North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free, but observers say the country is highly susceptible to the infectious diseases due to its weak medical infrastructure.
The North closed its border with China in January as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the virus and implemented tough quarantine measures on inbound goods and people.
<Photo: Yonhap News>
