February 11, 2025
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Freshwater resources faced with crisis

Date: 23/01/2025 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

NK News is hiring

Shortly ago, an international research group released a report that the areas affected by drought have remarkably increased and freshwater resources have decreased in different countries and regions of the world in the past few years.

According to it, continents have entered the stage of drying due to the sustained drought.

Researchers analyzed the freshwater depletion after 2014 on the basis of satellite measurement information. They discovered that the global average fresh water storage decreased by 1 200 ㎦ in the period between 2015 and 2023 as compared to that between 2002 and 2014.

Noting that the water crisis has become more serious than expected, they stated that natural and artificial factors have acted together.

Citing El Nino that occurred between 2014 and 2016 as a natural factor, the researchers asserted that the El Nino at the time changed the amount of rainfall and snowfall in different regions along with the global atmospheric flow.

They stressed that natural factors have produced certain effect on accelerating the freshwater crisis, but the artificial factor, that is, global warming caused by greenhouse gas emission, constitutes one of the major factors that have caused water evaporation and disrupted the hydrologic cycle.

A meteorologist said that if temperature rises, more water evaporates from the ground surface to the atmosphere and the probability and intensity of drought increase.

In actuality, the impact of climate change has significantly increased the incidence of drought worldwide over the past two decades. Since 2000, the frequency and duration of drought have increased by 29% as compared to the previous 20 years.

The decrease of underground water is also accelerated by lingering drought.

According to the analysis of observation of water volume in the global aquifer, the volume has decreased drastically in almost all regions of the world since 1980.  The underground water reduction speed has been increased since 2000, and this phenomenon is most pronounced in the aquifer of the drought zone. The researchers said that the reason for the faster underground water depletion in the drought zone lies in the excessive use of underground water in those areas.

Many areas of the world produce food by relying on underground water. If more groundwater is extracted now that water has dwindled in the aquifers in different countries and regions, it will not only deteriorate water resource shortage but also reduce the major crop cultivation area through the desertification of fertile land.

If freshwater resources are depleted, it will bring catastrophic consequences to mankind.

According to a recent report released by an international organization, about 3 billion people and large numbers of food production areas are suffering from drought and water availability is unstable in the world. Accordingly, more than a half of the world food production sector will be exposed to great threat until 2050.

The shortage of freshwater resources has also a direct impact on hygiene and health.

The lack of clean water increases the risk of outbreak of diseases like cholera. Such diseases can be fatal infections in areas where infrastructure for water supply is not developed.

The shortage of freshwater resources threatens the life and security of mankind, hinders economic development and creates social instability.

There is concern that the scramble for water resources may lead to conflicts between countries beyond the bounds of a country. The third Mideast war in the 1960s was also related with water resources. Rivers flowing through the territories of over two countries amount to 263 in the world.

The World Bank once warned that the 20th century was an era of conflict over oil, while the 21st century would be an era of conflict over water. It is not accidental that the media and experts of different countries of the world are concerned that a third world war may break out due to the water problem.

Researchers said that drought is expected to occur more frequently, be severer and last longer worldwide, adding that good freshwater resource management is one of the most important tasks in the 21st century.

More From Pyongyang Times

KCNA commentary on ROK's reckless military manoeuvres

KCNA commentary on ROK's reckless military manoeuvres

The military provocations being committed in a frantic way in the ROK from the first month of the new year serve as an occasion

February 10, 2025

The military provocations being committed in a frantic way in the ROK from the first month of the new year serve as an occasion

Many units overfulfil national economic plans in January

Many units overfulfil national economic plans in January

The Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea called on all the officials and

February 10, 2025

The Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea called on all the officials and

People's delegations visit KPA units

People's delegations visit KPA units

People's delegations composed of senior Party and government officials, officials of ministries, national agencies and local Party

February 10, 2025

People's delegations composed of senior Party and government officials, officials of ministries, national agencies and local Party

Production goes up at newly-built regional-industry factories

Production goes up at newly-built regional-industry factories

The modern regional-industry factories built in different parts of the DPRK are bringing about an upswing in production. The

February 10, 2025

The modern regional-industry factories built in different parts of the DPRK are bringing about an upswing in production. The

Folk dance ‘Sword dance’

Folk dance ‘Sword dance’

Sword dance is an age-old folk dance reflecting the Korean ancestors’ spirit of attaching importance to military affairs.Widely di

February 10, 2025

Sword dance is an age-old folk dance reflecting the Korean ancestors’ spirit of attaching importance to military affairs.Widely di

KPA commanding officers visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

KPA commanding officers visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

On the occasion of the 77th founding anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army, all the service personnel and people of the

February 10, 2025

On the occasion of the 77th founding anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army, all the service personnel and people of the

Reception given to celebrate anniversary of KPA

Reception given to celebrate anniversary of KPA

A reception was given on February 8 to mark the 77th founding anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army. Present there were

February 10, 2025

A reception was given on February 8 to mark the 77th founding anniversary of the heroic Korean People's Army. Present there were

Koreans pay floral tribute to great leaders

Koreans pay floral tribute to great leaders

Officials, service personnel, working people, students and schoolchildren visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and

February 10, 2025

Officials, service personnel, working people, students and schoolchildren visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and

European crisis a product of servitude to US

European crisis a product of servitude to US

European countries are now in a serious situation. In France prime minister was replaced several times in a year, and in Germany

February 09, 2025

European countries are now in a serious situation. In France prime minister was replaced several times in a year, and in Germany

Delegation of Kim Chaek University of Technology returns home

Delegation of Kim Chaek University of Technology returns home

The delegation of Kim Chaek University of Technology led by President Pak Ji Min returned home on February 7 after visiting

February 09, 2025

The delegation of Kim Chaek University of Technology led by President Pak Ji Min returned home on February 7 after visiting

KCNA commentary on anti-DPRK remarks of NATO and EU

KCNA commentary on anti-DPRK remarks of NATO and EU

Shortly ago, NATO and the European Union let loose sophism without common sense ignoring the reality to make the world laugh at

February 09, 2025

Shortly ago, NATO and the European Union let loose sophism without common sense ignoring the reality to make the world laugh at

National cookery competition held

National cookery competition held

The 13th National Cookery Competition took place at the Pyongyang Noodle House from February 4 to 7 on the occasion of the

February 09, 2025

The 13th National Cookery Competition took place at the Pyongyang Noodle House from February 4 to 7 on the occasion of the

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Unsan County

Regional-industry factories inaugurated in Unsan County

Modern regional-industry factories have successfully been built in Unsan County, North Phyongan Province, under the energetic

February 09, 2025

Modern regional-industry factories have successfully been built in Unsan County, North Phyongan Province, under the energetic

Premier Pak inspects various sectors of national economy

Premier Pak inspects various sectors of national economy

Pak Thae Song, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and premier

February 09, 2025

Pak Thae Song, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and premier

Kim Chaek University of Technology holds sci-tech festival

Kim Chaek University of Technology holds sci-tech festival

The 38th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology took place from February 4 to 7. The festival was

February 09, 2025

The 38th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology took place from February 4 to 7. The festival was

More Articles