"Low Birthrate, the Power of Mothers Needed" Even North Korea's Kim Jong-un Fears Low Birthrate

Kim Jong-un Personally Encourages Mothers
North Korea Faces Low Birthrate Issue at 1.7 Level

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, personally attended the 'National Mothers' Conference' held for the first time in 11 years, expressing North Korea's determination to overcome the low birthrate issue.

According to North Korean media outlet Korean Central News Agency on the 4th, Chairman Kim attended the 5th National Mothers' Conference held in Pyongyang the previous day. In his opening speech, Kim said, "I would like to take this opportunity to extend my most heartfelt respects to the mothers who have devoted their minds and bodies entirely for the growth of their children and the prosperity of the motherland."

He continued, "From a social perspective, there are many matters that require the strength of mothers. This includes raising children well to steadfastly continue the revolutionary lineage, eradicating the recently increasing antisocial problems, and promoting family harmony and social unity."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un personally attended and delivered the opening speech at the National Mothers' Conference held for the first time in 11 years. The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 4th that Chairman Kim attended the 5th National Mothers' Conference, which opened in Pyongyang on the 3rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also emphasized, "There is the issue of establishing a sound cultural and moral lifestyle, making communist virtues and good customs of mutual help and guidance the prevailing trend, as well as preventing the decline in birthrate and properly nurturing and educating children."

Chairman Kim stated, "The Party Central Committee regards this conference as equally important as the Party Congress or the Party Central Committee plenary meetings, both in terms of the status and role of mothers in the family and society and the practical issues facing our country and revolution."

In fact, North Korea's low birthrate problem is reported to be very serious. Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told 'Yonhap News,' "North Korea is also experiencing a low birthrate, leading to a shortage of labor."

According to Researcher Hong, concerns about labor shortages are significant even within North Korea, and Chairman Kim's direct involvement in mothers' events to encourage childbirth reflects this awareness of risk.

According to Statistics Korea, North Korea's total fertility rate has steadily declined from 1.885 in 2014 to 1.790 this year. South Korea's total fertility rate for the third quarter of this year was 0.7, marking a record low.

Although South Korea's low birthrate is more severe than North Korea's, North Korea has long fallen short of the replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1, which is necessary to maintain a stable population (a level where the population neither increases nor decreases).