FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu recently concluded a historic visit to North Korea, focusing on discussions surrounding food security and nutrition, the UN agency reported. This visit marked the first by a high-ranking UN official to North Korea since the country closed its borders in 2020 due to COVID-19.
During the four-day visit from Saturday to Tuesday, Qu Dongyu aimed to strengthen the partnership between FAO and North Korea in addressing food security challenges post-pandemic. He emphasized FAO’s commitment to providing expertise and support for agricultural sustainability, visiting sites like the Kangdong Greenhouse Complex and the FAO-sponsored Pyongchon Fish Farm.
The FAO characterized the visit as a significant milestone in its relationship with North Korea, highlighting the establishment of mutual trust and respect between both parties and paving the way for future cooperation and dialogue. The visit also raised questions about potential further engagement of UN officials in humanitarian projects within North Korea.
Following North Korea’s partial reopening of its borders last year, which saw limited exchanges with China and Russia, Qu Dongyu’s visit underscores renewed international interest in humanitarian initiatives within the secretive regime.
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