Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has urged government officials to bring about “fundamental transformation” in agricultural production amidst reports that the secluded country was facing severe food shortages.
According to the state news agency, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Un urged officials to boost grain production this year as a main priority. He emphasized the significance of stable agriculture production during the 2nd day of the 7th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
The new agency did not elaborate on North Korea’s measures, but Un urged that the target must be achieved in the next years. According to researchers, collective farming accounts for most of North Korea’s agriculture production with farmers producing crops with joint labour.
Food shortages in North Korea
The North Korean leader’s urge comes amid reports of growing food shortages in the country facing decades-long sanctions led by America. North Korea has denied reports that it cannot provide food for its citizens.
Earlier, South Korea’s unification ministry said that the food crisis in North Korea “seemed to have deteriorated”. The ministry said it was rare for the neighbouring country to announce a special meeting on agriculture strategy.
In his address at Monday’s meeting, Un mentioned the “significance of the growth of the productive agricultural forces” to ensure socialist construction.
North Korea is under strict world sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. Its economy has been further strained by strict and self-imposed border lockdowns aimed at stopping Covid outbreaks.
The extent of the food shortages in North Korea is unclear, but in an earlier report, the US-based “38 North Project” said the food insecurity was at its peak since famines devastated the country in the 1990s.
The report said, “food availability has fallen below the bare minimum regarding human needs.”
