The North Korean government was forced to reduce the food rations doled out to millions of their citizens Friday after the country faced the “worst harvest” in more than ten years.
“Official rations are down to 300 grammes – under 11 ounces – per person per day, the lowest ever for this time of year, the U.N. said following a food security assessment it carried out at Pyongyang’s request from March 29 to April 12,” reports Reuters.
“The country suffered a famine in the mid-1990s believed to have killed as many as 3 million people,” adds the article.
The study finds that over 40% of North Koreans are “chronically short of food” and face severe “food insecurity.”
Read the full report at Reuters.
ALL EYES ON SINGAPORE: President Trump Poised to Make History
The eyes of the world turned towards the city-state of Singapore Monday, as President Trump is poised to make history and meet face-to-face with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
According to Fox News, the stage is set for the Commander-in-Chief’s high-stakes summit with the communist leader; with talks possibly focusing on complete denuclearization, an end to the 68-year-long Korean war, the presence of American troops on the peninsula, and even the opening of a McDonald’s restaurant in Pyongyang.
The President commented on the negotiations just hours before the two leaders are set to meet, saying “Meetings between staffs and representatives are going well and quickly….but in the end, that doesn’t matter. We will all know soon whether or not a real deal, unlike those of the past, can happen!”
Meetings between staffs and representatives are going well and quickly….but in the end, that doesn’t matter. We will all know soon whether or not a real deal, unlike those of the past, can happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2018
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed Monday night (local time) that the Trump administration would be willing to make “security assurances” to the Korean regime; saying the US would not attack should Kim abandon his nuclear weapons program.
Read the full report at Fox News.
BACK IN BEIJING: Kim Jong Un in CHINA to Brief Officials on Singapore Summit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was back in Beijing this week, speaking with Chinese officials over his historic summit with President Trump and the possible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Kim traveled to Beijing Tuesday to meet with President Xi Jinping in their first face-to-face meeting since the Singapore Summit; making the trip his third visit to China this year.
“Trump agreed to work with Kim toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, committed to provide the North with security guarantees and pledged to end ‘war games’ with South Korea, which North Korea and China have long seen as provocative,” writes the New York Post.
“We hope this visit can help to further deepen China-North Korea relations, strengthen strategic communication between both countries on important issues and promote regional peace and stability,” said a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry.
Read the full report here.