[PDI Working Paper No.8] Humanitarian Situation in North Korea: Human Resources and Natural Disasters

Kyung Yon Moon (Assistant Professor, The School of International Studies Korean Track at Jeonbuk National University)

* This paper was published at Jiam Workshop #4.

Abstract:

In general, the main cause of North Korea’s humanitarian crisis is the decline in food production, and the biggest cause is believed to be due to the abnormal climate and natural disasters in North Korea. Such a natural disaster in North Korea must be a direct cause of the North’s food production decline. However, to understand the humanitarian situation, it is necessary to understand the various mechanisms related to food supply. In other words, it is necessary to consider various factors that affect food availability and food access rights (North Korea’s governance aspect).

This study attempted to examine whether sanctions against North Korea brought restrictions on food availability and worsened the humanitarian situation of North Koreans. To this end, by looking at the food production figures and trends in the undernourished population, it was confirmed that the nutritional insufficiency index of North Koreans, which can gauge the decline in food production and humanitarian situation, has worsened in the aftermath of the strengthened high-intensity sanctions. Based on this, how sanctions against North Korea caused food shortages in terms of food availability was examined in terms of reducing agricultural input factors caused by economic contraction, resulting in a decrease in food production, and a decrease in humanitarian activities. In addition, the effect of high-intensity sanctions was considered, which made it difficult to even rely on allies as an alternative response strategy that North Korea can take among sanctions from the international community.