North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, was seen breaking into tears in front of thousands of the country's "mothers" and urging them to have more kids so that the country's dramatic decrease in birth rate can be halted.

The dictator could be seen scrubbing his eyes with a handkerchief while delivering the carefully scripted plea to the women assembled to attend the National Mothers' Meeting in Pyongyang on Sunday (Dec 3).

"Preventing a decline in birth rates and good childcare are all of our housekeeping duties we must handle while working with mothers," Kim Jong-un stated, addressing the ladies as "Dear Mothers."

He stated that his nation was facing a slew of "social tasks that our mothers should join to tackle."

"These tasks include bringing up their children so that they will steadfastly carry forward our revolution, eliminating the recently-increasing non-socialist practices, promoting family harmony and social unity, establishing a sound way of cultural and moral life, making the communist virtues and traits of helping and leading one another forward prevail over our society, stopping the declining birth rate, and taking good care of children and educating them effectively,"

"These belong to our common family affairs, which we need to deal with by joining hands with our mothers," he went on to say.

Birth rate in North Korea is on the decline

According to UN Population Fund predictions, North Korea's average fertility rate, or the average number of children born, will be 1.8 in 2023, despite a recent fall in the birth rate.

In certain North Korean neighborhoods, fertility rates have been greater than in others, despite a comparable declining trend.

South Korea's fertility rate fell to a historic low of 0.78 last year, while Japan's fertility rate fell to 1.26.

South Korea's dropping birth rates have resulted in a pediatrician shortage, and individuals in the city have been organizing matchmaking events to increase birth rates.

“Given North Korea lacks resources and technological advancements, it could face difficulties to revive and develop its manufacturing industry if sufficient labour forces are not provided,” says a report issued by the Seoul-based Hyundai Research Institute.

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