A Study on the Correlation Between Sanctions and Humanitarian Situation: Did Sanctions Lead to the Crisis in North Korea?

Abstract

This study analyzes the correlation between the severe sanctions imposed by the international community against North Korea and its humanitarian situation. First, it was possible to assume that severe sanctions on North Korea since 2013 caused a decrease in input factors necessary for food production leading to a decrease in food production. Second, severe sanctions were an obstacle to the humanitarian agencies, and the inevitable negative images of the aid target caused donor countries to decrease their participation in the appeal. Third, as sanctions against North Korea were strengthened, China and Russia also joined in with the sanctions, but also, they served as a lifeline for North Korea by helping to increase agricultural production and resuming food aid as sanctions were prolonged. In short, it is difficult to say that sanctions on North Korea have not significantly worsened the humanitarian situation in North Korea in 2013 and even since 2017 when severe international sanctions were imposed. Instead, it seems that North Korea's humanitarian situation noted as the most severe humanitarian crisis in the past 20 years is the result of accumulated causes of a continued deterioration of economic crisis, failure of entitlement, and sanctions since 2013. However, as the change in the humanitarian situation was not significant, the sanctions were the reason for the humanitarian crisis deterioration, but they did not critically worsen the situation.