NORTH KOREA should take urgent steps to improve its “abysmal” human rights record by providing food for almost nine million people suffering from shortages, a UN envoy said yesterday.
The report by Vitit Muntarbhorn, the UN rapporteur for North Korea, said the World Food Programme could reach fewer than two million people due to a shortfall in international aid in response to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests.
The UN imposed new sanctions on North Korea after it tested a second nuclear device in May.
“I estimate at least a third of the population are in the hunger situation out of the projected 24 million population,” he said.
Prof Muntarbhorn, who has investigated North Korea for almost six years but has not been allowed entry, said the country was endowed with vast mineral resources.
“It is reported that the economy has improved slightly over the past year, an indication that more resources could be available to help the population,” he added. – (Guardian service)