North Korea looks to aquaculture to solve food crisis

North Korea, one of the world’s most isolated states, is planning to expand its fish farming industry on the orders of the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un. But its products are unlikely to appear on world markets any time soon. The fish will be used to help feed its 26 million inhabitants, many of whom are close to starvation. Kim Jong Un called for nurturing offshore fish farming in the port city of Sinpho, the state media said this week. According to the Korean Central News Agency, he visited a construction site for an offshore fish farm in the coastal city in South Hamgyong Province and presided over a meeting where developing the envisioned farm "into a new fine model of shallow-sea culture" was discussed. The agency also said that scallop and kelp farming, if conducted well, could make the city one of the richest in the country and a model of aquaculture within three to four years. The construction of the farm will be supervised by the (North) Korean People’s Army. During his visit, Kim Jong Un stressed the importance of developing regional economies to drive overall economic growth. North Korea is the world’s most secretive state, but it is known that many of its inhabitants are living close to starvation, so increasing the food supply by expanding aquaculture is seen as an important step to helping to feed more people. The government sealed its borders three years ago cutting off vital food supplies from China. It has also tightened control over people’s lives.