According to experts, the announcement does not in the least indicate an actual change.
At the Seventh Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea Kim Jong Un I ordered the development of agricultural infrastructure and the inclusion of new agricultural lands in order to enhance food production – announce on Thursday by North Korean state media.
As we already mentioned on Monday, the North Korean communist leader mentioned solving agricultural problems as one of the most important goals of the party congress. Then he also said that as long as the party’s central leadership is strong and the power is unified, he knows nothing about the impossible. The Central Committee meeting started on Sunday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong-un stressed the need to tighten discipline in implementing the economic plan and warned against “power-weakening practices” by the executive branch. In addition, he ordered all party organizations to “check the efficiency of work.”
Professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, Yang Mugen However, he pointed out that
South Korea has already issued a warning signal due to severe food shortages in the part of the country ruled by communist tyrants. As is known, in some areas the number of deaths from starvation also began to increase, which can be partly attributed to the failure of the new grain policy limiting private production.
North Korea’s economy has recently been hit by floods and typhoons, as well as sanctions imposed because of its nuclear missile program. Among the factors causing hunger, the tight border closure issued in reference to the coronavirus, which has led to a significant drop in trade with China, cannot be ignored.
According to experts, deficiencies in adequate agricultural infrastructure and mechanization, as well as shortages of fertilizers and fuel, have left North Korea highly vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters.