Tense food situation and longer COVID lockdown warnings in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un today warned of possible food shortages and longer COVID restrictions as he opened a major political conference to discuss national efforts to salvage the country’s economy, which has been on the brink of collapse since the onset of the pandemic.

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He called for North Koreans to brace themselves for longer anti-virus restrictions today as the virus continues to batter North Korea.

The country’s official news agency also said today that Kim called for discussions on how the North should deal with the current international situation.

North Korea has so far ignored the allies’ calls to resume nuclear negotiations that have stalled for two years following the collapse of Kim’s ambitious summitry with former U.S. President Donald Trump, which derailed over disagreements in exchanging relief from crippling U.S.-led sanctions with denuclearisation steps by the North.

Meantime, Kim reportedly urged officials to boost agricultural production in one way or another, saying the country’s food situation “is now getting tense.”