VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A North Korean food crisis appears to have deteriorated, South Korea said on Wednesday, as a newspaper reported that North Korea has cut rations to its soldiers for the first time in more than two decades.

North Korea has effectively acknowledged serious food shortages, South Korea's unification ministry said, referring to a North Korean state media report this month about plans for an "urgent" ruling party meeting on agriculture.

"Its food situation seems to have deteriorated," the South's unification ministry, which handles relations with North Korea, said in a statement.

North Korea has over recent decades suffered serious food shortages, including famine in the 1990s, often a result of natural disasters such as floods damaging harvests.

The isolated country is under strict international sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes and in recent years its limited border trade was virtually choked off by self-imposed lockdowns aimed at preventing COVID-19.

South Korea's DongA Ilbo newspaper said on Wednesday that North Korea has reduced daily food rations to its soldiers for the first time since 2000, citing an unidentified senior South Korean official.

The unification ministry said it could not confirm details of the media report but it and other agencies were monitoring the situation.

North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported on Feb. 6 that the Workers' Party of Korea had called a meeting of the party's Central Committee for late February for the "very important and urgent task to establish the correct strategy for the development of agriculture".

The South's unification ministry said it was rare for North Korea to call such a special meeting.

Last month, the U.S.-based monitoring group 38 North said North Korea's "food availability has likely fallen below the bare minimum with regard to human needs", with food insecurity at its worst since the famines of the 1990s.

South Korea's Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said recent North Korean media reports of leader Kim Jong Un's daughter appearing at state functions could be aimed at drumming up unity and shoring up loyalty to the ruling family amid deepening humanitarian woes.

"North Korea's food situation doesn't seem very good," Kwon told parliament. "We're seeing a number of signs ... though it doesn't yet look like there's a stream of people starving to death."

Kwon also said North Korea has asked the U.N. food agency, the World Food Programme, for help but talks did not progress because of differences over the monitoring of any aid.

The WFP, which has helped North Korea over the years, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. (reuters)

The Philippines and the United States will this year carry out their biggest joint military drills since 2015, Manila's army chief said on Wednesday, against a backdrop of growing tensions with China in the South China Sea.

The exercises underscore improved ties with the United States under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and come as the Philippines condemns China's "aggressive" actions in the disputed waterway, including its use of a "military-grade laser" against one of Manila's vessels earlier this month.

The annual 'Balikatan' exercises will be conducted in the second quarter and involve more than the previous year's 8,900 troops, army chief Romeo Brawner told reporters.

"All of these exercises that we are doing are in response to all types of threats that we may be facing in the future, both man-made and natural," Brawner said.

President Marcos on Tuesday summoned China's ambassador to express "serious concern" over the intensity and frequency of China's activities in the South China Sea, most of which China claims as its territory.

China's use of a laser against a Philippine vessel on Feb. 6, which its foreign ministry insists was legal, has sparked expressions of concerns and support from Australia, Japan, and the United States.

Washington "will redouble its efforts with our Philippine ally" to bolster the Philippine military and coast guard's defence capabilities "as we work shoulder-to-shoulder to uphold the rules-based international order," Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said on Twitter.

The Philippines has granted Washington greater access to its military bases as part of the latter's efforts to deter China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan.

In 2015, more than 11,000 troops from both countries participated in the joint military exercises.

"The exercises will involve a myriad of activities, not just focused on developing the war fighting capability of both armed forces, but also of the other non-traditional roles such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response," Brawner said. (Reuters)

Jakarta (voinews): Skills development and lifelong learning are investments for workers in facing the ever-changing world of work, according to the Indonesian Manpower Ministry.

Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor made this statement during a panel discussion at the 2023 World Government Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tuesday.

Noor remarked that developments in technology, demography, the environment, and globalization are currently affecting the demand from employers to employees.

Hence, it is important to provide access for individuals to develop and hone their skills, Noor emphasized.

"Investments in training and lifelong learning for workers could help them to face uncertainties in the future, especially for migrant workers, youth, women, workers in the informal economy, and persons with disabilities," he noted in a written statement received here, Wednesday.

He stated that investing in sustainable employment by accelerating skills development and lifelong learning was one of the five views of the Indonesian government presented during the discussion.

The second view is the need to ensure that all workers benefit from the development process, he remarked.

Noor affirmed that in this effort, all parties should develop employment policies that can properly respond to workers' rights as well as to the ever-changing global and national situations. This policy must be inclusive of all workers, including women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Third, he deemed it necessary to build a strong foundation for social and employment protection.

The deputy minister also stated that comprehensive, adequate, and effective social and employment protection were the main pillars of inclusive growth.

"Workers must also contribute to ensuring a sustainable, fair, and inclusive job market and encourage greater resilience in our economy," he remarked.

Fourth, the Indonesian government continues to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as the instrument for job creation.

Noor stated that MSMEs contribute 90 percent to business activities and contribute more than 50 percent to job creation worldwide.

"Thus, it is important to promote and support digital infrastructure that is fair, high-quality, affordable, and inclusive to support MSMEs in helping their business to grow," he remarked.

The last area of focus is the need to strengthen multilateralism to promote a human-centric agenda.

"The voices of all countries, both developed and developing, must be equally important. That is why we need a renewal of multilateralism that could keep up with the time and objectives," he affirmed. (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews.id): Indonesia condemns Israel's decision to legalize Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

"Indonesia strongly condemns Israel's decision to authorize 9 Jewish settlements in the West Bank and plans to build 10,000 new houses in the area," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said via Twitter, Wednesday (15/2).

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this decision violates international law and UN resolutions. This decision is also considered to trigger instability in the region.

"This decision violates international law and related UN resolutions and fuels tension and instability in the region," said the Foreign Ministry.

Indonesia invites the international community to unite and urge Israel to stop such activities.

"The international community must unite to urge Israel to stop these actions and continue to press for a two-state solution," wrote the Foreign Ministry.

Israel announced the establishment of nine outposts in the West Bank which are illegal under international law because they are in the occupied territory.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the establishment of these posts in Avigayil, Beit Hogla, Givat Harel, Givat Arnon, Mitzpe Yehuda, Malachei Hashalom, Asahel, Sde Boaz and Shacharit.

The establishment of these posts was said to be in response to a series of terrors perpetrated by Palestinian militants in East Jerusalem.

In addition, in his announcement, Netanyahu said the government would authorize settlement construction in the West Bank in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the Israeli government plans to propose the construction of around 10,000 houses. (VOI/Andy)