North Korea has added ‘delicious black swan meat’ to its menu in an attempt to alleviate chronic food shortages.
State media reported that black swans are being raised on an industrial scale at a new breeding center at one of the largest duck farms in the country on the east coast.
This move comes just days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned that they should expect to eat less food until China re-opens its borders in 2025.
The impoverished country has been fighting a food crisis as well as a poor economy. Officials now believe that black swan meat, which they claim is an ‘exceptional food for health’, is the solution.
A swan enclosure was built at the Kwangpho Duck farm, Jongphyong, to house the black swans. An official ceremony was held in order to open the’swancorral’.
State media reported that black swans are being raised on an industrial scale at a new breeding center at one of the largest duck farms in the country on the east coast.
A swan enclosure was built at the Kwangpho Duck farm, Jongphyong, where black swans will bred. An official ceremony was held to officially open the’swan Corral’
According to the Korean Central News Agency, “Black swan meat has medicinal value” and “delicious”, while industrial breeding of the bird will “improve the living standard of the people”.
According to KCNA, the enclosure contains several blocks of sheds, including one for young birds. There are also sanitary inspection rooms and other equipment.
The state media stated that the construction provided a foundation for improving people’s living standards through the industrial breeding and conservation of black swans, an uncommon ornamental bird.
On Sunday, South Hamgyong Province chief party secretary Ri Jong Namy led the ceremony to open the black swan centre at the duck farm.
The state media previously stated that black swan is a 21st-century health food with an exceptional taste and extremely high nutritional content.
Research into the breeding of black swans began in Spring 2019 and satellite imagery from then showed a new construction project was underway at the Kwangpho Duck farm, reports NK News.
A researcher from the country’s agriculture ministry told KCNA in 2020 that the black swan meat has more protein than other meats and is easier to digest, adding that it also has ‘anticancer’ properties.
It is not clear if any other black swan enclosures have been built in the country, or how the meat will get distributed.
The impoverished country has been struggling with a food shortage and a poor economic environment. But officials now claim that ‘delicious’ black Swan meat is the solution, as it has’medicinal value’ (file photo).
This development comes days after officials in North Korea told North Koreans to tighten their belts for at most three more years until the country reopens its borders with China.
People have complained that they would not be able to survive the winter without having enough food.
As a precautionary measure against the spread coronavirus, North Korea closed its borders with China in January 2020.
The move had a serious economic impact on the country, with the prices of everyday goods increasing sharply due to increased demand.
Speaking about the new government guidance, a resident of the city Sinuiju, who wished to remain anonymous, told RFA that people have been warned that the chances of re-opening the border with China before 2025 were slim.
They stated that the current food crisis was already a serious emergency, and that people are suffering from severe shortages. When the authorities tell them that they need to conserve and consume less food until 2025… they can do nothing but feel great despair.’
North Korea has warned its citizens to expect to eat less food when it re-opens its borders with China in 2025. North Koreans are already suffering from food shortages. However, Kim Jong Un’s government (pictured) advised citizens to tighten their belts for at most three more years.
Despite the hardships facing the North Korean people, Kim Jong Un continues to promote the idea of self-reliance despite the difficulties.
This message was further encouraged in July when then Central Committee instructed the public to begin growing their own crops in anticipation of shortages.
However, with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimating that North Korea is short around 860,000 tons of food this year, the Sinuiju resident said that contempt is growing among the people.
The resident said that they told us to endure hardships until 2025, which is the same thing as telling us to starve.
Another source claimed that the North Korean government was trying to create food shortages due to their Covid-19 strategy. They claim it has worked well.
The North Korean government blames external causes for their food shortages. They cite sanctions imposed, natural disasters and a global coronavirus pandemic as reasons. Pictured: North Korean farmers harvesting their rice on October 19, 2021
The government blames external causes for the food shortages, citing natural disasters, sanctions and the global coronavirus outbreak.
Last year, severe flooding in North Korea left hundreds without homes and damaged vital crops. This year, crops were also affected by droughts and subsequent flooding.
According to North Korea’s state TV, in August, heavy rains caused flooding of 1,170 houses in northeastern North Korea, forcing 5,000 residents to flee to safety.
The downpour in South Hamgyong Province washed away hundreds of hectares of farmlands and destroyed many bridges. Footage showed houses submerged to their red-brick roofs. There was also a severed bridge that crossed muddy water and a swollen stream.
Kim acknowledged that there is a ‘tense food situation’ that could get worse if all crops fail. This is in addition to the strict self-imposed movement and border restrictions that have slowed down trade to a trickle. Pictured: File photo of men plowing a North Korean field in July 2017.
Poor drainage, deforestation and crumbling infrastructure in this impoverished country often cause serious flooding in North Korea’s summer rains.
Kim acknowledged a “tense” food situation that could worsen should all crops fail. This is in addition to the strict self-imposed movement and border restrictions that have slowed down trade to a trickle.
North Korea is a mountainous country. This means that there is not enough land to grow crops and many farmers don’t have access to the right tools, such as combine harvesters, tractors, and threshers.
According to some estimates, North Korea is dependent on foreign aid to feed about a third of its population.
Even with these imports, a UN report from 2017 concluded that two fifths are undernourished. This means they don’t have the calories they need to maintain a healthy weight.
One third of North Korean children are thought to be stunted. This means that they didn’t get enough calories in the early years.