A North Korean medical worker wearing a face mask from the South Korean company Yuhan Kimberly. Screen grab of YTN

By Jung Min-ho

The government has denied allegations that it provided North Korea with face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"The government has not provided any masks to North Korea, nor has any nongovernmental organization sought permission from the government to send masks to help the North," Yoh Sang-key, a spokesman for the Ministry of Unification, said Thursday.

He urged the public to stay vigilant about disinformation, saying those who are responsible for spreading it will be held accountable in court.

Rumors started swirling that the Moon Jae-in administration secretly sent masks to the North after YTN, a local broadcaster, aired on March 1 video footage of a North Korean medical worker wearing a mask from the South Korean company Yuhan Kimberly.

This comes as many people in South Korea complain about a shortage of masks, which prompted the government to restrict exports to ensure enough domestic supply amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Yuhan Kimberly said it has not sold any masks to North Korea.

A ministry official said the mask may have entered North Korea through China.

North Korea has not reported any coronavirus infections.