N. Korea: Stunted growth rife among children

A UN report published on Wednesday showed that malnourishment remained widespread in North Korea despite a "slight" improvement across the country.

Around one in five children in North Korea is smaller than the average for his or her age, the report said. 

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) noted that stunting is "an indication of chronic or recurrent malnutrition."

Food insecurity

The rate of stunted children has decreased over the past decade, dropping from 32.4 percent in 2009 to 19 percent in 2017.

Despite the improvement, "only one in three children age six to 23 months receive the minimum acceptable diet," UNICEF Asia and Pacific director Karin Hulshof told reporters in Geneva.

A UN-led report published last year found widespread food insecurity in North Korea, with roughly 41 percent of the population undernourished.

Read more: North Korea drought threatens famine and instability

'New seriousness'

Hulshof noted that the government survey of 8,500 households marked improved cooperation between Pyongyang and the UN, noting that the information was more reliable than in the last survey in 2009.

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"This new seriousness and improved openness about data is in UNICEF's view a real step forward," said Hulshof.

"I would just like to remind everyone that these data were collected in 2017, so that is sometime before the latest summits."

Diplomatic blitz

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with US President Donald Trump, culminating in what observers believe is a historic shift on the Korean Peninsula.

Part of North Korea's latest diplomatic blitz included a high-level summit, with Kim walking across the heavily-militarized border to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Read more: Did Trump justify North Korea human rights abuse?

But some observers have been cautious to laud North Korea's shift, saying Pyongyang's aims may not be fully understood yet. The country has suffered from paralyzing international sanctions linked to its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs.

ls/ (AFP, dpa)

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