Food insecurity in North Korea at alarming level: UN rapporteur

Tomas Ojea Quintana, a UN independent investigator on the situation of human rights in North Korea, said that food insecurity in the nation is at an alarming level. He told the General Assembly's human rights committee that 140,000 North Korean children are estimated to be suffering from undernutrition. This includes 30,000 who face an increased risk of death. The UN investigator said that the Government has failed to provide them with food due to its failing economic and agricultural policies. He added that climate conditions, infertile land, natural disasters and the negative impact of sanctions also create further food insecurity in the region. Quintana said that he failed to see any improvement in North Korea's human rights situation during his three years of observation as a special rapporteur.

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Loopholes in the Public distribution system

Quintana said that in North Korea, economic resources are being diverted from basic amenities and that there is 'pervasive' discrimination in the public distribution system. The discrimination made the life of ordinary citizens difficult, especially for farmers and natives in rural areas who receive no rations. Quintana blamed the North Korean government for failing to put in place conditions where people can securely engage in trade and exchange in marketplaces without facing criminalisation, extortion and other forms of abuse. He said that the majority of the North Koreans are engaged in the market place and only the moneyed have access to basic rights such as education, health care, freedom of movement and adequate housing. He further described the scenario, saying that there are severe restrictions and surveillance on civilians.

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North Koreans flee to China

Quintana also mentioned that citizens fear of being sent to a political prison camp named 'Kwanliso'. Exercising basic human rights becomes a threat as many times as citizens are misread as spies, he added. Many North Koreans have fled to China, Quintana said that in the past six months, maximum of which are detained in the region. The UN investigator asked China to not return them as they might face torture once returned. The Chinese Government has increased engagement with Quintana on the matter, he said. 

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North Korea has accepted 132 recommendations from other UN member states, including one "to grant immediate, free and unimpeded access to international humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups, including prisoners and could, therefore, be an opportunity to improve prison conditions," Quintana said.

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