The United Nations has sounded the alarm over the worst crops in North Korea for more than a decade. According to a UN report presented today, the total tonnage fell by 500,000 tonnes last year to 4.95 million tonnes. UN North Korea Coordinator Tapan Mishra warned that this created a big „food gap“.
The number of people dependent on humanitarian assistance has increased by 600,000 to 10.9 million in North Korea, according to the UN. That corresponds to 43 percent of the population. At the same time it lacks money for aid deliveries. UN North-Korea Coordinator Mishra said last year only just under a quarter of its funding needs were covered. North Korea has long struggled with food shortages.
Summit in Hanoi failed
The reasons for the poor harvest are natural disasters, a lack of arable land and inefficient agriculture. North Korea had heat waves in July and August. It was followed by heavy rains and floods by a typhoon. The internationally isolated country also lacks modern agricultural technology and fertilizers.
Critics also accuse Pyongyang of having spent decades promoting the expansion of the army and the nuclear weapons program at the expense of the people. At a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, US President Donald Trump said last week that abandoning his nuclear program would make the country blossom economically. The summit failed, however. North Korea had demanded the lifting of sanctions, and the US demanded nuclear disarmament.
North Korea allegedly rebuilds missile facility
Meanwhile, according to US experts, satellite images show new activity on a missile facility in the west of the country. Satellite images would document activities on the Sohae site, according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). That could indicate that Pyongyang wanted to rebuild the system.
From the plant located in the west of North Korea launcher rockets with satellites were launched in 2012 and 2016. Internationally, however, the launches were judged as tests of ballistic missiles and strongly condemned. On the Sohae grounds there is a test facility for rocket engines and a launcher.
According to CSIS, the now registered activities could be a sign that North Korea wants to show „determination“ after the summit failed. The plant was shut down since August 2018. This indicates that the now registered activities are „intentional and purposeful“.
