Shruti Suman
In a recent video, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is visibly moved and wipes away tears as he addresses a gathering, emphasizing the need to address the declining birth rates in the country and encouraging women to have more children.
The viral video circulating on social media captures Kim Jong Un looking down and wiping away tears, with many in the audience also seen dabbing their eyes. During an event for mothers in Pyongyang, Kim was quoted by Reuters, stating, “Preventing a decline in birth rates and ensuring good childcare are responsibilities that we all need to manage while working alongside mothers.”
Expressing gratitude to mothers for their role in strengthening national power, Kim shared, “I too always think about mothers when I face challenges in handling the party and the state’s work.”
As of 2023, the United Nations Population Fund estimates North Korea’s fertility rate at 1.8, reflecting a continued decrease over recent decades. While this rate is comparatively higher than some neighboring countries, such as South Korea (0.78) and Japan (1.26), which are also grappling with declining birth rates.
South Korea’s diminishing birth rates have led to a shortage of pediatricians, prompting one city to organize matchmaking events in an attempt to boost birth rates. North Korea, with a population of around 25 million people, has faced various challenges, including serious food shortages and deadly famines in the 1990s, often exacerbated by natural disasters like floods damaging harvests.
