North Korea may undergo more severe economic hardship than that in the 1990s due to international sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, South Korea's unification minister said Monday.
North Korea underwent the prolonged economic troubles in the mid-to-late 1990s, commonly known as the Arduous March, during which an estimated 3 million North Koreans are believed to have died from hunger.
"After the death of founder Kim Il-sung, North Korea faced severe economic difficulties. In some cases, we think that the North's situation could get worse compared with that period," Minister Cho Myoung-gyon told a forum.
This photo carried by North Korea`s Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Sept. 24, 2017, shows North Koreans holding a rally against the United States. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
His remark came as the United Nations Security Council imposed fresh sanctions on Pyongyang over its sixth nuclear test last month. The latest punitive measures included the restriction of energy supplies to North Korea and an exports ban on North Korean textiles.
"About 90 percent of North Korean export products are expected to be hit by the UN sanctions and Washington's unilateral punitive acts," Cho said. The North's annual exports are estimated at $3 billion.
He said that North Korea seems to view the current situation as a crisis and be bracing for a long race, given the outcome of the latest meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
North Korea's state media has called on its people not to yield to sanctions and to bolster self-reliance.
"The power of self-reliance clearly shows that North Korea is stronger than the sanctions and pressure imposed by the hostile forces, and a final victory will be reserved for North Korea," reported the Rodong Sinmun, the main newspaper and organ of the WPK.
"Our precious sword of self-reliance is our science and technology. A storm made with self-reliance will smash the hostile forces' policies of sanctions and pressure." (Yonhap)
