N. Korea’s food production lowest in 10 years

Posted on : 2019-05-04 14:42 KST Modified on : 2019-05-04 14:42 KST
UN’s FAO & WFP report 1.36 million tons of food aid required
A FAO/WFP assessment team visits a public distribution center (PDC) in Sinchon County
A FAO/WFP assessment team visits a public distribution center (PDC) in Sinchon County

North Korea’s food conditions in 2019 are its worst in 10 years with 40% of the population suffering a shortage of food, with 1.36 million tons of food aid from the outside needed to relieve it, according to a UN research report published on May 3.

According to an assessment of North Korea’s food security published that day based on recent studies by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP), food production in North Korea last year stood at around 4.9 million tons, down 12% from the year before.

The amount, which is the lowest since 2008–2009, was the result of serious drought conditions and flooding last year and a lack of fertilizer and agricultural machinery, the report concluded. The two organizations sent a team of eight experts to North Korea from Mar. 29 to Apr. 12 to examine its food situation. The report projected North Korean food production for 2019 at 4.17 million tons, representing an even steeper drop from last year. The amount was estimated as showing a shortfall of 1.59 million tons from North Korea’s total food demands of 5.76 million tons. Even when 200,000 tons of currently planned imports and 21,1200 tons to be supplied by international organizations are factored in, the amount still falls short by 1.36 million tons, the report said.

As reasons for the steep projected decline in food production, the report cited poor forecasts for the spring harvest in June due to a lack of rainfall and other factors, as well an increase from usual levels in lost yields of harvested grains due to a lack of fuel and electricity to transport and store them. With sanctions currently restricting North Korean imports of fuel and fertilizer, the report said, “The unintended negative impact sanctions can have on agricultural production, through both direct and indirect impacts, cannot be ignored.”

Nearly 40% of North Korea’s population, 10.1 million people, facing food shortage

Concluding that around 40% of North Korea’s population – roughly 10.1 million people – was facing a food shortage, the report stressed that emergency assistance was needed.

The South Korean Ministry of Unification said, “As fellow Koreans, we are concerned at a humanitarian level about the report of an extremely serious food situation in North Korea by international organizations.”

“The administration plans to look closely at the humanitarian situation in North Korea and cooperate closely with the international community,” it said.

The issue is drawing attention amid reports that the matter of humanitarian aid to the North is to be discussed at a South Korea-US working group meeting during an upcoming South Korea visit by US State Department Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun on May 8–10. In September 2017, the South Korean government approved US$8 million in North Korea aid through UNICEF and WFP, but the delivery has been postponed after a request from the US to refrain.

By Park Min-hee and Noh Ji-won, staff reporters

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