The World Health Organization(WHO) said on Monday that it is feared COVID-19 will spread rapidly in North Korea.

Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO’s regional director for South-East Asia, issued the warning in a statement shared on the organization's website.

The WHO official said that with the country yet to initiate a COVID-19 vaccination program, there is a risk that the virus may spread rapidly among the masses without immediate and appropriate measures.

The WHO said it had yet to receive information about the reported outbreak directly from local authorities.

It added that the WHO is ready to provide assistance in the North's fight against the pandemic.

[Photo : YONHAP News]