"Food Supply in North Korea Below Minimum Human Requirement"

CNN Report... Worst Situation Since the 'March of Hardship'
Unofficial Trade Suspension and Missile Launches Worsen the Situation

Experts have analyzed that North Korea's food crisis has reached its worst situation since the 1990s "Arduous March," with mass starvation potentially occurring.

According to a report by the US CNN on the 3rd (local time), Lucas Rhenhippo-Keller, a researcher at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, based on evaluations from the United Nations and South Korean authorities, trade status, and satellite images, presented an analysis stating that "food supply in North Korea has fallen below the amount necessary for humans to meet minimum needs."

He said, "Although it is unimaginable given North Korea's practice of prioritizing elites and the military, even if food were distributed equally to all residents, deaths from starvation could occur." Earlier, South Korea's Ministry of Unification also stated at a regular briefing on the 20th of last month that "the food crisis appears severe, with mass starvation occurring in some parts of North Korea."

The appearance of North Korean children making do with inadequate meals.

CNN cited data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), reporting that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of North Korea's population was malnourished, and that the three years of border closures and isolation have worsened this situation. It also analyzed that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's obsession with missile test launches and rejection of aid offers from neighboring countries contributed to the worsening situation.

Rina Yoon, senior researcher at the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), analyzed that the near halt of "informal trade," which played a significant role in sustaining North Korea's economy after Kim Jong-un ordered in 2020 that anyone attempting to cross the border be shot on sight, also had a considerable impact. Researcher Yoon explained "informal trade" as "one of the main lifelines of markets within North Korea where ordinary North Koreans purchase goods." However, since North Korea's border closure, cases of smuggling Chinese products into North Korea have almost disappeared.

CNN interpreted Kim Jong-un's recent call for a "fundamental transformation" of agriculture and national economic planning at the expanded meeting of the 7th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party, discussing agricultural sector restructuring and emphasizing the need to strengthen state control over agriculture, as evidence of the seriousness of the situation.

Experts: "Opening Borders and Resuming Trade Are Urgent Priorities"

Experts emphasized that opening borders and resuming trade are urgent priorities to resolve North Korea's food crisis. They also pointed out that the more fundamental problem is years of poor economic management, and that Kim Jong-un's efforts to further strengthen state control will only worsen the situation.

Researcher Rhenhippo-Keller predicted, "North Korean residents have suffered from chronic malnutrition for decades, and all signs, including high stunting rates, indicate worsening conditions, so it will not take long before a famine catastrophe strikes the entire country."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.