The North Korean authorities are working to evade responsibility for issues of food insecurity in the country, describing the problem of access to food as a global threat rather than a domestic concer. Rodong Sinmun made the claim on the 6th, claiming that “The food crisis is not a problem limited to a few countries and regions; it is a global issue that threatens the survival of humanity.”
In an article entitled, “Effort for Food Security,” the publication of the Chosun Workers’ Party declared, “Recently, international economic organizations including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and experts have warned that a global food crisis might strike this year. The food problem is one of the toughest problems, one faced by every continent and region.”
It added, “Levels of malnutrition are increasing in many countries and regions due to food shortages, and this is causing major concern. Last year, the number of malnutrition cases caused worldwide by food shortages amounted to 870 million people.”
Moving to attribute the high figure to the actions of foreign powers, it went on, “The food price shocks that are destabilizing the world cannot be separated from the imperialists’ strategy to dominate food supply.”
It also went on to assert that, in line with North Korea’s own policy, food self-sufficiency is the key to solving food crisis, saying that “Many countries are taking practical measures to solve food problems and increase agricultural production.”
