Too many employees of international organizations resident in North Korea are living an “idle” life without significant responsibilities, the DPRK’s mission to the United Nations (UN) said on Monday.

In a statement issued to journalists in response to comments by UN Secretary General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric last Thursday, the DPRK mission defended the country’s recent calls for the United Nations to cut its in-country resident staff.

“It is commonly known that the cooperation activities by the UN Agencies in the DPRK do not proceed as required due to the politicization of assistance by the hostile forces,” the statement read.

The United Nations