With only days to go until the US-North Korea nuclear summit, Pyongyang has released an official memo in which it urges international organizations to help the country address massive food shortages that have forced the regime to cut its food rations almost in half. North Korea blames the food crisis on United Nations (UN) sanctions and on a disappointing harvest due to extreme weather.
According to a UN spokesman, the international body is coordinating with North Korean aid organizations to help the government to “further understand the impact of the food security situation on the most vulnerable people in order to take early action to address their humanitarian needs.” UN figures suggest that four out of ten North Korean citizens are undernourished.
Read more: North Korea warns of food crisis, slashes rations before next leaders’ summit