Staff disinfect the premises of a medical oxygen factory to curb the current COVID-19 health crisis in Pyongyang, May 19, in a photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency. North Korea's state-controlled media carried reports Tuesday questioning the usefulness of COVID-19 vaccines. Yonahp

North Korea's state-controlled media carried reports Tuesday questioning the usefulness of COVID-19 vaccines, as the secretive nation has claimed progress in efforts to control the coronavirus outbreak.

The North's latest stance may suggest a dimmer prospect of accepting the international community's existing offers of vaccine aid, including Washington's stated willingness to provide help and Seoul's bid for consultations on healthcare cooperation.

"Pharmaceutical companies are developing vaccines against various virus variants, with treatments having been developed, but there are questions about whether they can be used in the global scope," the Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said.

Minju Joson, a paper run by the North's Cabinet, presented a similar view in an editorial the previous day.