The North Korean leader is the only person not wearing a mask at the headquarters when overseeing the rapid exercise of many artillery units.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un yesterday directed the second exercise in a week of the country's artillery. During the exercise, North Korean artillery units competed against each other to demonstrate their skill and readiness, according to North Korea's central news agency KCNA.

Photos published by KCNA show that Kim Jong-un wore leather jackets and fur hats, but not masks. Meanwhile, all officers at the headquarters wear the same black mask. North Korean leaders had not previously used medical protective gear when conducting drills last week and earlier this week.

The exercise on March 12 saw the participation of many BM-21 jet-propelled artillery systems and heavy artillery, but without the super-large rocket system tested by Pyongyang in the past two weeks.

Pyongyang's recent exercises also appear to increase military morale and show that North Korea is not influenced by Covid-19. The country has not recorded any cases of nCoV since the outbreak in China in December 2019.

North Korea has closed its border with China, and isolating 30 days with all citizens from the affected countries. Pyongyang earlier this week brought diplomats Germany, France and Switzerland to Russia after the countries closed their representative offices in Pyongyang.