'North Korea needs more kids': Troubled, lonely as child, Kim Jong Un bursts into tears in front of thousands of women

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, visibly moved, implored women to contribute to countering the country’s decreasing birth rate, emphasising the importance of strengthening national power during a National Mothers’ Meeting in Pyongyang. In his orchestrated appeal, he underscored the responsibilities of preventing a decline in birth rates and promoting good childcare, urging mothers to instill communist values in their children.

NEW: North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un starts crying as he begs North Koreans to have more babies.

North Korean birth rates are about to skyrocket 📈

The incident happened at the National Mothers Meeting hosted by the dictator who started dabbing his eyes in an effort to get… pic.twitter.com/F8xg0dZ05J

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 5, 2023

The event, the first National Mothers’ Meeting in 11 years, aimed to address concerns arising from North Korea’s falling birth rate. Kim, addressing the audience as ‘Dear Mothers,’ highlighted the social tasks that mothers should join in tackling, emphasising the significance of the meeting comparable to a party congress or a plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee. While detailed population trends in North Korea are challenging to ascertain due to limited statistics, South Korea’s government indicates a steady decline in the North’s fertility rate over the past decade. This poses concerns for a country relying on mobilized labor to sustain its sanctioned economy, prioritizing the military in resource allocation. Kim’s call for increased population growth aligns with historical efforts, including policies encouraging larger families in the 1980s. Notably, North Korea provides support such as nurseries and 77 days of paid leave after childbirth, reflecting efforts to ease the challenges of raising children. The recent demographic changes in North Korea, comparable to wealthier nations, are attributed to factors like economic constraints and influences from South Korean media. Experts suggest that the country’s limited resources and technological advancements may hinder economic development without an adequate labor force. In response to the declining birth rate, North Korea has introduced benefits for families with three or more children, including free housing, state subsidies, free essentials, and educational perks. Despite concerns and projections of a population decrease, North Korea’s fertility rate remains higher than some neighboring countries grappling with a similar trend. Kim has in the recent past made repeated appearances with his daughter, Ju Ae, speculating that these may be efforts to encourage family growth or establish her as his heir. Despite these efforts, North Korea faces challenges in reversing the demographic decline, with the situation unfolding against a backdrop of broader socio-economic and cultural issues. Earlier, an ex-bodyguard of Kim’s father had revealed that he lived an isolated childhood that left him “stressed” and “quick-tempered.” Lee Young-guk, who was one of the Kim Jong Il’s personal bodyguards for 11 years, said that the man who has drawn worldwide censure for rapidly advancing his country’s nuclear weapons program lashed out as a young man.