North Korea reported more than 260,000 new suspected cases of the coronavirus with fever symptoms in a single day, pushing up the total number of suspected infections to over 2 million.

The ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that over 263,000 new cases of fever and two deaths had been confirmed during the 24-hour period through 6 p.m. on Thursday.

This has brought the number of people who have developed feverish symptoms since late April to over 2.241 million, with the number of fatalities climbing to 65.

Rodong Sinmun also reported that a state funeral will be held for Hyon Chol Hae, a general who was in charge of military education of leader Kim Jong Un. He reportedly died on Thursday at the age of 87.

The paper said Kim Jong Un will preside over the funeral.

Observers say by holding a state funeral for a man who had supported the Kim dynasty, Kim Jong Un aims to bolster national unity as the country grapples with the spreading disease.