The coronavirus has killed 180 North Korean soldiers and another 3,700 have been quarantined in January and February, according to the Daily NK.

The dead soldiers were reportedly stationed on or near the North Korean border with China according to the report, with the military thoroughly disinfecting the corpses.

This apparently contradicts the North Korean government's order that hospitals cremate all corpses, with the Daily NK's military source explaining "There's just too many bodies [to be cremated in the military], and they didn't want news [of the cremations] to leak outside the military."

The military has also reportedly threatened to punish unit commanders who do not carry out proper disease control measures in an attempt to prevent coronavirus outbreaks.

As part of the military efforts to ensure that soldiers are strong enough to resist the disease, the troops are being given three meals of pureed soybean soup per day to eat, instead of the usual one daily," according to the Daily NK.

Although North Korea has not confirmed any cases of coronavirus, experts are concerned Pyongyang is covering up cases amid reports the regime recently placed at least 7,000 people under quarantine, The Epoch Times reported.

Pyongyang has also reportedly implemented severe measures to prevent coronavirus infections, including not allowing the entrance of foreign tourists, bolstering border checks, and halting most air and rail travel within and out of the country.

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