N.Korea's Kim says food situation 'tense' due to pandemic, typhoons

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

June 15, 2021
10:12 PM EDT
Last Updated an hour ago

N.Korea’s Kim says food situation ‘tense’ due to pandemic, typhoons

Hyonhee Shin
2 minute read

SEOUL, June 16 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country’s economy improved this year but called for measures to tackle the “tense” food situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and last year’s typhoons, state media said on Wednesday.

Kim chaired a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's central committee on Tuesday to review progress on major policies and craft measures to resolve economic issues, according to the official KCNA news agency.

The committee set goals and tasks to achieve its new five-year economic plan outlined at its previous session in February, including increased food and metal production.

Kim said the overall economy had improved in the first half of the year, with the total industrial output growing 25% from a year before, KCNA said.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkoreas-kim-says-food-situation-tense-due-pandemic-typhoons-2021-06-15/

[Ziggysmom]

1. Is Kim the only obese person in North Korea?

The workers all look sad and gaunt, but Kim is always looking well fed and happy. I feel sorry for the North Korean people he deceives.

[secondwind]

2. Maybe they aren't really deceived....

Just trying to stay alive.

[yonder]

3. I've noticed that too - almost always Kim is the most portly

(portliest?) in any photo with him in a group. From soldiers in his army, to regular folks, they all look skinny in an unhealthy way. Not enough food, unhealthy food, along with likely intestinal parasites, life in that country is pretty grim for all but Kim himself.

Also, that is a very, very strange photo. Or a very good photo of something very strange. There is a surreal, otherworldly quality to it - can't quite pin it down.