North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who said on Thursday that depriving people of necessities like food is a “serious political issue,” has asked for solutions to be discovered to enhance economic development.
According to KCNA, Kim made these comments during a lecture on regional development at the country’s ruling party, the Workers’ Party of Korea, 19th Enlarged Meeting of the Political Bureau of the 8th Central Committee, which took place between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Significant food shortages, including famine in the 1990s, have affected North Korea in recent decades. These shortages are frequently made worse by natural disasters like floods that destroy crops.
The unification minister of South Korea, who oversees relations with its neighbor, said last year that although commerce with China has increased, the food situation in North Korea has not improved.
By introducing a new regional development program, the North Korean leader urged his party to move quickly to improve living conditions for citizens throughout the country and reduce the gaps between urban and rural areas.
At the Supreme People’s Assembly meeting earlier this month, Kim revealed this policy.
“The overall regional economy is in a terrible situation without elementary conditions and there are severe imbalances and huge gaps between regions in terms of their geographical circumstances, economic potential, and living circumstances,” Kim was quoted as saying.
“We should not sit by and wait till the situation and conditions turn favorable but find more jobs to be faithful to our duty for the sake of the people,” he added.
Due to self-imposed lockdowns meant to stop COVID-19, North Korea which is subject to severe international penalties for its prohibited nuclear programs saw an increase in economic strain during the pandemic.
