With North Korea suffering from three key problems -- a border blockade, long-term sanctions and natural disasters -- Pyongyang's repeated military provocations have so far been relatively restrained, so as not to trigger additional sanctions by the U.N. Security Council.
Unlike ballistic missiles, launching cruise missiles is not prohibited by the U.N. resolution on sanctions against North Korea. Launching a short-range ballistic missile is a violation of the resolution, but no additional sanctions have been imposed on the country since the former U.S. administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The border blockade that has been in place between China and North Korea for more than 1-1/2 years to prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus has "exacerbated the country's situation by causing shortages of daily necessities and foodstuffs," according to a South Korean government official.
South Korea's intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Service, reported to the National Assembly that rice prices in North Korea have soared from the high-3,000 won per kilogram range in January this year to the 7,000-won range in June.
North Korean residents have reportedly become so frustrated, they even assaulted an official who was enforcing the prices.
According to North Korean media, an intensive heat wave since mid-July has caused droughts over a wide area of the country. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says North Korea is expected to face a food shortage of around 860,000 tons this year.
North Korea claims it has no cases of novel coronavirus infection, but the spread of vaccinations is essential for the normalization of economic activities in that country, through such measures as the reopening of the border.
Yet it is extremely difficult for North Korea to develop its own "cold chain" equipment for transporting and managing vaccines at low temperatures because of its poor medical facilities.
If North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile or engages in large-scale military provocations in a bid to bring the United States to the negotiating table, the country could be impoverished by additional sanctions.
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