North Korea's Kim says food situation 'tense' due to COVID-19, typhoons
16 June, 2021
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country's economy improved this season but called for measures to tackle the "tense" food situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and last year's typhoons, state media said on Wednesday (Jun 16).
Kim chaired a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's central committee on Tuesday to examine progress on major policies and craft measures to solve economic issues, in line with the official KCNA news agency.
The committee set goals and tasks to achieve its new five-year monetary plan outlined at its previous session in February, including increased food and metal production.
Kim said the entire economy had improved in the first half of the entire year, with the total professional output growing 25 per cent from a year before, KCNA said.
But there is "a number of deviations" in the party's efforts to implement the plans because of several obstacles, he said, singling out tight food supplies.
"The people's food situation is now getting tense as the agricultural sector failed to fulfill its grain production plan as a result of damage by typhoons this past year," Kim said.
The party vowed to direct all efforts to farming this year and discuss methods to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, KCNA said.
Kim needed steps to minimise impacts of natural disasters as a lesson from this past year and key to realize this year's goal.
In January, Kim said his previous five-year financial plan had failed in nearly every sector, amid chronic power and food shortages exacerbated by sanctions, the pandemic and floods.
He also said the protracted pandemic required the party to intensify efforts to provide food, clothing and housing for the people, KCNA said.
North Korea hasn't officially confirmed any COVID-19 cases, a claim questioned by Seoul officials. But the reclusive country has imposed strict anti-virus measures including border closures and domestic travel restrictions.
COVAX, a global initiative for sharing COVID-19 vaccines with poor countries, has said it will provide nearly 2 million doses to North Korea but the shipment has been delayed amid protracted consultations.
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