North Korean leader Kim Jong Un openly wept during a recent address, pleading with the women of his nation to combat the country's declining birth rates. This rare occurrence, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, highlights the deepening demographic crisis facing North Korea.
During the Fifth National Conference of Mothers in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un, often seen as an unflinching figure, broke down, emphasizing the urgency of reversing the declining birth trend.
"Stopping the decline in birthrates and providing good child care and education are all our family affairs that we should solve together with our mothers," he implored, wiping away tears. His emotional appeal underscored a growing concern within the hermit kingdom, where the birth rate has fallen to an average of 1.8 children per woman in 2023, according to the United Nations Population Fund.
NEW: North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un starts crying as he begs North Koreans to have more babies.
North Korean birth rates are about to skyrocket
The incident happened at the National Mothers Meeting hosted by the dictator who started dabbing his eyes in an effort to get… pic.twitter.com/F8xg0dZ05J — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 5, 2023
Kim Jong Un's plea comes amidst a backdrop of stringent government controls over nearly every aspect of North Korean life. The nation, known for its totalitarian regime and repressive policies, exerts tight control over its citizens, including their personal choices.
In a bid to enforce patriotism, the government even mandated parents to give their children names reflective of North Korean ideals, eschewing names perceived as "soft" or "anti-socialist." Names like Chong Il (gun) and Pok Il (bomb) were encouraged, with fines threatened for non-compliance and a directive to avoid names influenced by "decadent Western Yankee culture" or neighboring countries.
This demographic issue is compounded by severe food shortages, affecting nearly half of North Korea's estimated 25 million population. Reports from the UN special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea indicate a widespread malnutrition crisis, with around 42% of the population malnourished. The situation is dire, with UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, and the World Bank Group reporting in May that one in six North Korean children under five suffers from stunted growth due to malnutrition.
Kim Jong Un's tearful appeal marks a significant moment in North Korea's history, highlighting the complexities and challenges the isolated nation faces. The leader's emotional outburst reflects a rare acknowledgment of a national crisis that transcends political and ideological boundaries, resonating with the fundamental human concern of a nation's future.
