North Korea’s economy is in terrible shape under the dictatorship of Kim Jong-il. Bad economy in most countries means the lack of benefits and job security for many and homelessness for a few. In North Korea, it means starvation/malnutrition for a substantial segment of the population.

Recently, South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo said North Korean is even “begging” for food (i.e. requesting for food aid) from poor African countries like Zimbabwe, citing an unnamed source in South Korea. (North Korea is also requesting food aid from developed Western countries.)

North Korea’s economy has been mismanaged for decades. However, before 2008, it used to receive 400,000 tonnes of rice per year (among other aids) from South Korea.

Now, without the aid, the plight of the North Korean population is exacerbated.

North Korea is a notoriously closed regime, so accurate data is not available. However, according to the accounts of North Koreans who have escaped to China, the situation is very dire and death from starvation is common.

Below are footages (often captured in secret) of appalling poverty in North Korea.

A young woman in extreme poverty.

From KBS1, a South Korean TV network. Video provided by freedomfornorthkorea.com:



Interview of a North Korean defector. Voice distorted to protect identity.

From KBS1, a South Korean TV network. Video provided by freedomfornorthkorea.com:



Footage from a North Korea village.

From KBS1, a South Korean TV network. Video provided by freedomfornorthkorea.com:



Footage of 2000 documentary titled “Children of the Secret State”

Produced by BBC’s Carla Garapedian.



Footage of a poverty in North Korea from South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo network.



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