Current:Home > Contact-usThe North Korean leader calls for women to have more children to halt a fall in the birthrate-LoTradeCoin
The North Korean leader calls for women to have more children to halt a fall in the birthrate
View Date:2024-12-24 09:36:08
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said it is a duty of women to halt a fall in the country’s births in order to strengthen national power, state media said Monday, as his government steps up the call for the people to have more children.
While getting a detailed read on North Korea’s population trends is extremely difficult because of the limited statistics it discloses, South Korea’s government assesses that the North’s fertility rate has declined steadily for the past 10 years. That is a concerning development for a country that depends on mobilized labor to help keep its broken, heavily sanctioned economy afloat.
Kim’s latest appeal for women to have more children was made Sunday during the country’s National Mothers Meeting, the first of its kind in 11 years.
“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,” Kim said in his opening speech.
According to South Korea’s government statistics agency, North Korea’s total fertility rate, or the average number of babies expected to be born to a woman over her lifetime, was at 1.79 in 2022, down from 1.88 in 2014. The decline is still slower than its wealthier rival South Korea, whose fertility rate last year was 0.78, down from 1.20 in 2014.
South Korea’s fertility rate, the lowest in the developed world, is believed to be due to a potent cocktail of reasons discouraging people from having babies, including a decaying job market, a brutally competitive school environment for children, traditionally weak child care assistance and a male-centered corporate culture where many women find it impossible to combine careers and family.
While North Korea is one of the poorest nations in the world, the change in its demographic structure is similar to that of rich countries, some observers say.
“Many families in North Korea also don’t intend to have more than one child these days as they know they need lots of money to raise their kids, send them to school and help them get jobs,” said Ahn Kyung-su, head of DPRKHEALTH.ORG, a website focusing on health issues in North Korea.
Ahn, who has interviewed many North Korean defectors, said the smuggling of a vast amount of South Korean TV dramas and movies in the past 20 years that showed an elevated social status for women has also likely influenced women in North Korea not to have many children.
North Korea implemented birth control programs in the 1970-80s to slow a postwar population growth. The country’s fertility rate recorded a major decline following a famine in the mid-1990s that was estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands of people, the Seoul-based Hyundai Research Institute said in a report in August.
“Given North Korea lacks resources and technological advancements, it could face difficulties to revive and develop its manufacturing industry if sufficient labor forces are not provided,” the institute report said.
According to North Korean state media reports this year, the country has introduced a set of benefits for families with three or more children, including preferential free housing arrangements, state subsidies, free food, medicine and household goods and educational perks for children.
South Korea’s statistics agency estimates the North’s population at 25.7 million. The Hyundai institute report said that North Korea was expected to experience a population shrink from 2034 and forecast its population would decrease to 23.7 million by 2070.
Ahn, the website head, said that Kim Jong Un’s repeated public appearances with his young daughter, Ju Ae, are also likely be efforts to encourage families. Other experts said the daughter’s appearances were more likely an attempt to show she’s her father’s heir.
___ Associated Press writer Jiwon Song contributed to this report.
veryGood! (89)
Related
- 'America's flagship' SS United States has departure from Philadelphia to Florida delayed
- U.N. says most Libya flooding deaths could have been avoided, as officials warn the toll could still soar
- Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, brought to US: Sources
- How indigo, a largely forgotten crop, brings together South Carolina's past and present
- Firefighters make progress, but Southern California wildfire rages on
- University of Kentucky cancer center achieves highest designation from National Cancer Institute
- Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard has heart surgery, Phil Martelli is interim coach
- A New Mexico man was fatally shot by police at the wrong house. Now, his family is suing
- Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn is ending her retirement at age 40 to make a skiing comeback
- Maren Morris gives pointed response to 'toxic' criticisms in new EP 'The Bridge'
Ranking
- Rōki Sasaki is coming to MLB: Dodgers the favorite to sign Japanese ace for cheap?
- Kosovo receives $34.7 million US grant to fight corruption and strengthen democracy
- Princess Diana's black sheep sweater sells for $1.143 million at auction
- Not just LA and New York: Bon Appetit names these 24 best new restaurants in 2023
- Pedro Pascal's Sister Lux Pascal Debuts Daring Slit on Red Carpet at Gladiator II Premiere
- North Korea’s Kim Jong Un inspects Russian bombers and a warship on a visit to Russia’s Far East
- Biden set for busy week of foreign policy, including talks with Brazil, Israel and Ukraine leaders
- Britney Spears’ Sons Jayden and Sean Federline Hit New Milestones
Recommendation
-
Father sought in Amber Alert killed by officer, daughter unharmed after police chase in Ohio
-
Josh Duhamel Details Co-Parenting Relationship With Amazing Ex Fergie
-
Why Maren Morris Is Stepping Back From Country Music
-
North Dakota panel will reconsider denying permit for Summit CO2 pipeline
-
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul VIP fight package costs a whopping $2M. Here's who bought it.
-
Prosecutors warned that Trump learning of search warrant could 'precipitate violence'
-
Stefon Diggs says it was 'very hurtful' to hear Buffalo Bills reporter's hot mic comments
-
World Cup champion Spain willing to sacrifice their own glory to end sexism, abuse