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N Korea food shortage 'desperate' N Korea food shortage 'desperate'
(30 minutes later)
A UN envoy says the food situation in North Korea is desperate, with aid from the World Food Programme reaching only one-third of the those in need.A UN envoy says the food situation in North Korea is desperate, with aid from the World Food Programme reaching only one-third of the those in need.
The UN rapporteur for North Korea said shortages had been in part caused by reactions to Pyongyang's nuclear tests.The UN rapporteur for North Korea said shortages had been in part caused by reactions to Pyongyang's nuclear tests.
As a result, he said, only two million people are now getting food aid.As a result, he said, only two million people are now getting food aid.
The envoy says food supplies have also been affected by the state's efforts to control economic activity, particularly by restricting the role of women.The envoy says food supplies have also been affected by the state's efforts to control economic activity, particularly by restricting the role of women.
Vitit Muntarbhorn, the UN's Special Rapporteur for North Korea, was giving his annual report to a meeting of the UN's 192 member states. Vitit Muntarbhorn, a Thai human-rights expert who has been UN Special Rapporteur for North Korea since 2004, was giving his final report to a meeting of UN members.
He said conditions had been improving until the middle of the year - the World Food Programme had access to more of the country than before, and was reaching about six million needy people. "The human rights situation in the country remains abysmal owing to the repressive nature of the power base: at once cloistered, controlled and callous," he said.
'Hostile forces'
While many North Koreans live "in abject poverty", Mr Muntarborn added, officials control the country's vast mineral wealth.
The exploitation of the ordinary people... has become the pernicious prerogative of the ruling elite. Vitit MuntarbhornUN rapporteur on North Korea
He said food conditions had been improving until the middle of the year - the World Food Programme had access to more of the country than before, and was reaching about six million needy people.
But in mid-2009, he said, there had been a shortage of international aid.But in mid-2009, he said, there had been a shortage of international aid.
He said this was influenced by fresh UN sanctions put in place after North Korea tested a second nuclear device in May - following a first test in 2006.He said this was influenced by fresh UN sanctions put in place after North Korea tested a second nuclear device in May - following a first test in 2006.
The WFP could now help only some two million people, he said.The WFP could now help only some two million people, he said.
Mr Muntarbhorn added that North Korean authorities were planning to further restrict the activities of the organisation. Mr Muntarbhorn has not been allowed into North Korea, relying instead on testimony.
Only two million people are now receiving food aid
The report argued that the situation had been made more desperate with efforts to extend state control by curtailing economic activity.The report argued that the situation had been made more desperate with efforts to extend state control by curtailing economic activity.
Women under the age of 49 are not allowed to trade, it said, and some general markets have been closed: this has led to several clashes between female traders and the authorities. Only two million people are now receiving food aid
Women under the age of 49 are not allowed to trade, it said, and some markets have been closed: this has led to several clashes between female traders and the authorities.
Women have also been forbidden to ride bicycles, a key vehicle for getting to work, and forced to wear skirts rather than trousers, the envoy said.Women have also been forbidden to ride bicycles, a key vehicle for getting to work, and forced to wear skirts rather than trousers, the envoy said.
But Mr Muntarbhorn also described an atmosphere of fear and repression, dreadful prison conditions and said people were sent to labour camps for things like failing to turn up to work or watching films from South Korea. "The exploitation of the ordinary people", the rapporteur said, "has become the pernicious prerogative of the ruling elite."
North Korea's deputy UN ambassador Pak Tok-hun rejected the report and said the country was being singled out for sinister political purposes. Mr Muntarbhorn described an atmosphere of repression, dreadful prison conditions and said people were sent to labour camps for things like failing to turn up to work or watching films from South Korea.
North Korea's deputy UN ambassador Pak Tok-hun said the report was "full of distortion, lies, falsity, devised by hostile forces".
Are you in North Korea? Are you affected by the issues in this story? What is your reaction to the UN report?Are you in North Korea? Are you affected by the issues in this story? What is your reaction to the UN report?
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