Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, and Putin’s Shared Message: ‘Have More Children’

Kim Jong Un in Tears, Calls for Halt in Declining Birth Rates
Xi Jinping Also Emphasizes Women’s Role
Putin: “Have More Than Seven Children”

Dictators from North Korea, China, and Russia have collectively emphasized the need to increase birth rates.

According to Business Insider, on November 11th (local time), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, President of China, and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, recently issued statements urging more childbirth. They called for a review of the birth rate to contribute to national development.

Kim Jong Un’s Emotional Plea

In Kim’s rare speech at the 5th National Mothers’ Meeting on December 4th, Kim acknowledged the decline in North Korea’s birth rate. He encouraged women to have more children as a patriotic duty. It was the first time in 62 years since Kim Il Sung that a North Korean leader spoke at the Mothers’ Meeting. Notably, he was seen shedding tears during the report at the event.

Kim commended the dedication of North Korean women, acknowledging their valuable patriotism and noble contributions through hard work and child-rearing in challenging circumstances. He stated, “Addressing the declining birth rate and providing excellent care and education for children is a collective domestic challenge we must tackle alongside mothers.” He stressed that “the advancement of a socialist powerhouse can gain momentum when every mother comprehends that having multiple children is a patriotic deed and actively engages in it.”

Xi Jinping’s Call to Action

During the All-China Women’s Federation conference associated with the Communist Party in October, President Xi expressed his desire for women to shape emerging family dynamics. He conveyed, “I aspire to see the Chinese populace enthusiastically cultivate fresh norms in marriage and child-rearing while reinforcing the guidance of youthful perspectives on marriage, childbirth, and family.”

Putin’s Urgent Appeal

During the World Russian People’s Council held in Moscow on October 28th, President Putin encouraged Russian women to consider having seven to eight children, or possibly even more, much like our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did. He emphasized, “We should aim to uphold and rejuvenate this remarkable tradition,” he further stated, “Extensive households should become the customary way of life for all Russian citizens.” He added, “Our objective for the forthcoming decades, and even for several generations, is to preserve and increase the Russian population. This embodies the future of eternal Russia and the Russian world.”

Reasons Behind the Calls for Increased Birth Rates

There are clear reasons why these leaders want to increase birth rates. North Korea’s birth rate has sharply decreased from 3.67 children per woman in 1955 to 1.79 this year. In China, the population has fallen for the first time since 1961 compared to the previous year, and the number of registered marriages has also hit a record low. Russia is facing a different kind of population crisis due to war. The UK Ministry of Defense estimated in October that 290,000 Russian soldiers were killed or injured in Ukraine.

By. Hyo Sun Byeon