North Korea's Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, shed tears at a gathering of moms, expressing his concerns about the country's dwindling birth rate. The emotional meeting saw hundreds of women, all officially mothers, weeping in solidarity.
Kim voiced his worry about preventing the population decline and enhancing quality childcare, stressing the importance of collaborating with mothers. Although he didn't share specific numbers, the United Nations Population Fund predicts a 1.8 fertility rate for North Korea in 2023, assuming a population of approximately 26 million. This figure indicates a continuous struggle for growth in the isolated nation.
In highly developed nations, around 2.1 children per woman should be born to prevent population shrinkage, mathematically speaking. Germany has fallen below this threshold since 1970, and in 2022, it hit an all-time low of 1.46. Since North Korea has battled chronic food shortages due to the regime's radical policies, their population has suffered. The most recent national mothers' meeting took place in 2012.
Kim's concern shows a growing realization of the need to address North Korea's low birth rate. While the actual policies and strategies are unclear, historical challenges like economic sanctions, limited access to education and healthcare, and strict social controls would likely need consideration.
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