No country on Earth is as closed off from the world and mysterious as North Korea. Mired in economic difficulty and seemingly inhumane conditions, one key question begs to be understood: Who exactly feeds North Korea?
Although North Korea is listed as one of five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, it remains one of the weakest and poorest countries in the world. The country’s dismal economy combined with a government system that has been in place since the 1940s has left North Koreans dependent on the international community to provide food in order to survive.
One of the biggest contributors to North Korea’s food supply is China, who is estimated to provide around 95% of the country’s imports, including rice, corn, and other grains. China has a long-standing diplomatic history with North Korea, and has historically been one of their most powerful allies. The Chinese government has gone out of its way to support the hermit kingdom, providing them with assistance throughout the years for various political and economic difficulties.
The United Nations is also a major actor in providing aid to the North Korean people. Through its World Food Programme, the UN helps to supply some of North Korea’s basic needs, such as grains, oil seeds and other processed foodstuffs. Other developmental aid is also provided by the UN to help with infrastructure projects, health, and education.
South Korea’s provision of aid is perhaps the most interesting, due to the complex historical relationship between the two countries. Even though South Korea has been a key food donor, it has also been noted that their food shipments to the North have decreased in recent years. Political tensions between the two countries has resulted in South Korea taking a more cautious approach towards their food aid.
However, North Koreans are not only reliant on foreign aid to feed themselves. According to recent reports, North Korea’s government has been successful in obtaining food supplies through measures such as bartering with other countries and also growing food in cooperation with foreign investors. North Koreans are also reported to be seeking food on their own, either through informal channels or traditional farming methods.
North Korea’s Self-Sufficiency
The North Korean government has been trying to increase their food self-sufficiency for many years now. Despite the country’s economic and political struggles, reports show that the government has invested in extensive agricultural improvement projects, such as the expansion of trade agreements with other countries, mechanization of agricultural production, and providing public subsidies for staple foods like rice. The goal of these efforts is to enable North Koreans to become more food secure, though it has yet to be seen if these initiatives will be successful.
Sanctions and Humanitarian Aid
Though the North Korean government has been making efforts to become more self-sufficient, the country continues to face major obstacles to food security. The United Nations has imposed a number of sanctions on North Korea in recent years, which has only served to make their situation worse. As a result, many international organizations have raised calls for banning extensive sanctions against North Korea and for allowing humanitarian aid to reach its people.
International Perspectives
International sentiments towards North Korea vary greatly, from those that advocate for stronger sanctions to those that call for unconditional and unrestricted aid. For some, the North Korean government deserves to be severely punished for their gross violations of human rights, while others argue that the real issue is that of poverty and malnutrition, and that it is not possible to tackle these issues without providing food aid to the North Korean people.
Social Policies
Despite receiving aid from outside, the North Korean government still has a number of policies related to food management and distribution that need to be addressed. These include widespread corruption and the widespread use of unfair rationing and trading practices which have resulted in a vast inequality between rural and urban residents when it comes to access to food and other necessities. Much of the food aid that is delivered to North Korea is also highly regulated and monitored by the government, which is something that international donors need to take into consideration.
In conclusion, despite its many economic and political difficulties, North Korea is still a part of the global community and deserves to be treated with the same level of respect and concern as any other nation. It is clear that the only way to truly guarantee the food security of its citizens is for all international actors to come together and provide humanitarian aid and assistance to the North Korean people.
