Starvation deaths in North Korea, lack of food or suicides by going into the mountains

People in North Korea have told the BBC that food is scarce and their neighbours are dying of hunger.

North Korean officials say the situation is the worst since the 1990s.

North Korea closed its borders in 2020. As a result, the supply of essential commodities to the country has been stopped. He also said that the number of people involved in the protests is very high.

However, the North Korean government's representatives told the BBC they were more focused on the public interest.

The BBC has secretly spoken to three ordinary people in North Korea. For this purpose, we have created a’ DLC " page. Daily NK has a good network in the country.

People said they feared they would starve to death after the borders were closed or they would be hanged if they broke the rules. The North Korean people are not aware of their own problems.

Sok'el park of the Liberty in North Korea (Link) said interviews with people here tell of the devastating situation in the country. The organization is helping refugees fleeing North Korea.
She lives in Pyongyang, the capital of the country.. He said he knew three of the victims ' families. "I gave them water. "There was no one," John said. She said when officers entered the home, they found the bodies of the three men. To protect privacy, we have changed the names of Ji yeon and the others interviewed.

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We also spoke to Chan Ho, a construction worker who lives on the border with China. He said there was very little food and five people had already died of hunger in their village.

‘At first, I was afraid of covid-19. Then he died,’ he said.

North Korea has never had the capacity to produce enough food for the country's 26 million people. North Korea closed its borders in January 2020. Food imports from China have also been suspended. Imports of fertilisers and machinery required for the production of crops have also been stopped.

The borders were sealed. There were also reports that security forces were ordered to shoot if anyone wanted to cross the fences. This makes it very difficult for food or other items to be brought illegally and sold in the thief's markets.

Myong Suk, a businessman from the northern part of the country, also spoke to the BBC. He said three-quarters of the country's exports come from China. Today, however, the shops are open.

They sell goods that are smuggled across the border. "We had enough food at home. But that is not the situation now. "A lot of people come to our house without food," she said.

Jeon, who lives in Pyongyang, said: ‘some people have committed suicide at home. Some went to the mountains to die. "It was impossible for them to leave," he said.

He said it was difficult to feed his children. She said she had not eaten or slept in two days.

In the late 1990s, there was a devastating famine in North Korea. Nearly 30 lakh people have lost their lives. There are reports that many people are dying here.

’ The fact that even middle-class people are saying they're seeing people die in their neighborhood, " said Peter Ward, a North Korean economist. ‘We cannot say right now whether there is a large-scale starvation or the collapse of society. But things are not going well, " he said.

Hanna song, the director of the nkdb, which publishes news on human rights abuses in North Korea, also agreed with the argument. "In the last 10-15 years, we have not heard much about hunger deaths here. "The situation is deteriorating again," he said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has also expressed concern over the situation. He said at one point there was a’ food crisis " here and steps were being taken to increase agricultural yields. Instead, he focused more on the production of weapons. In 2022, a record 63 ballistic missiles were tested. The total cost of these tests is $ 500 million. 4,108 crore. This is more than enough to meet the food shortage.

Hunger and suicides in North Korea

According to the interviewees, the government's control over people's lives has increased in the last three years with measures such as tightening punishments and bringing in new laws.

According to South Korean statistics, more than a thousand people were crossing the Yalu River into China annually before the coronavirus pandemic. However, Suu Kyi found it difficult to do so. "At least you're on the river. ’ It is very difficult to cross the river, " he said.

Chan Ho, a construction worker, said.. He said his friend's son had witnessed the execution of some people in secret. "It's hard to live here every day. One error will be removed. "We live here waiting to die," he said.

We want the North Korean government to respond. "The government is trying to protect the interests of the people," he said.

"Protecting the people is our first priority. What you are saying is not correct. ’ You have gathered false information from those who are working against the government, " a spokesman for the North Korean embassy in London said.

However, it is clear from the current situation that there is a serious impact on people from three sides, said Sokeel Park of link. ‘There is a serious food problem here. Freedom is still being lost. "It is impossible to leave the area," he said. North Korea is oppressing people like never before.

Jian said.. ‘The level of surveillance and repression is such that people don't trust each other. I was asked the same question in December 2020. The new law prohibits listening to foreign films, TV shows and songs. ’ There are provisions for the death penalty, especially if it is proved that foreign content is being shared in the country, " she said.

Roo Hyun-woo, a North Korean diplomat who has now settled abroad, said he was shocked by how tough the new laws were to curb foreign influence. ’ If people understand the conditions in which they are living, Kim Jong-Un is afraid of a coup, " he said.

He said that the people who have faith in the government are also facing doubts and doubts.

‘Before covid-19, there were a lot of people who believed in him. "Now everyone is in shock," said Suu Kyi.