Food shortage forces reduction in Pyongyang population

By Chyung Eun-ju, Park Si-soo

North Korea has significantly reduced its capital's population to stave off political instability amid a protracted food shortage, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports citing sources in the reclusive state.

Pyongyang's population is estimated at 2.6 million, down from 3 million in 2010. Its regime has taken additional measures to cut it to 2 million, according to RFA.

The reduction was made by forcing ex-convicts and jobless people to move outside Pyongyang, it said.

"The policy was decided by the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and implemented by the Pyongyang city council committee," a North Korean source was quoted as saying.

The source said the policy was meant to ensure stable food rationing in Pyongyang that is open exclusively to proven loyalists to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Any kind of political or social instability there could deal a blow to Kim's leadership.

Experts said an unstable foods supply was behind the population reduction policy. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), North Korea's cereal production has reduced significantly in recent years due to summer drought.

Intensified international sanctions have dealt another blow to supply, the experts said.

Sources said the policy had drawn mixed reactions from city residents. Some had positive reactions because it meant they would be exempt from various regulations and burdens placed on Pyongyang citizens.

But other people were worried about being stripped of their city privileges.