North Korea reported its first case of Covid-19 Omicron variant and put in place a "maximum emergency" virus control system in the country with leader Kim Jong Un vowing to "eliminate" the virus, state media reported.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), top officials, including the country's leader Kim Jong-un, held a crisis politburo meeting to discuss the outbreak and announced they would implement a "maximum emergency" virus control system. NK News reported that areas of Pyongyang had been locked down for two days. "Multiple sources have also heard reports of panic buying due to uncertainty of when the lockdown might end," NK News reported, citing sources in Pyongyang.