Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
In the midst of a food crisis, North Korea reportedly ordered its citizens to eat less until the government opened the border with China in 2025 to come.
A resident told Radio Free Asia that two weeks ago, the North Korean government visited people’s homes to inform them that the food crisis might still hit until 2025.
According to the official, North Korea will still be in crisis because trade access with China is still closed to avoid contagion of Covid-19. Hearing the government’s statement, the residents were devastated.
“The food situation is now serious and people are suffering. When the government asks people to save money and eat less food until 2025, they can’t do anything. They can only be sad,” said the resident, who did not want to be identified.
Currently, North Korea is in the midst of a food crisis due to border closures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, North Korea’s agricultural industry has also been hit by a number of disasters.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stated that North Korea is facing a food shortage of around 860 thousand tons this year.
According to an FAO report released in early July, North Korea is projected to produce only 5.6 million tons of grain this year.
That amount is less than 1.1 million tons of the figure needed by North Korea to meet the food needs of all its citizens.
Although it will be added with imports targeted at 205,000 tons, North Korea will still face the possibility of food shortages of around 860 thousand tons.
“If this gap is not adequately covered through commercial imports and/or food aid, North Korea will have a hard time from August to October,” the FAO report said.
In response to this crisis, a number of United Nations experts called on the world to reconsider sanctions on North Korea. According to them, the current situation in North Korea is very alarming.
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