STATE media said a person who defected to South Korea three years ago returned last week across the demarcation line with COVID-19 symptoms.
Leader Kim Jong-un held an emergency meeting with top officials, imposing a lockdown in the border city of Kaesong.
North Korea, a secretive state, had previously not reported any virus cases – but analysts said this was unlikely.
At Saturday’s politburo meeting, Kim was said to have ordered a “maximum emergency system” to contain the virus.
Kim also launched an investigation into how the person had managed to cross the heavily fortified border, KCNA added, warning those responsible that “a severe punishment” would be administered.
On Sunday, a South Korean military official said there were “high chances” that an individual had illegally crossed into the North and that an investigation had been launched, according to Yonhap news agency. (BBC)
