NewStats: 3,259,816 , 8,170,938 topics. Date: Monday, 26 May 2025 at 04:50 AM 6u3n1a

North Korea is experiencing a critical food crisis, experts say.

The country is no stranger to chronic food shortages, but border controls, poor weather and sanctions have worsened the situation in recent years.

Top officials are expected to meet at the end of February to discuss a "fundamental change" to agriculture policy, state media has said.

This is a "very important and urgent task" amid "pressing" farming issues, news aggregator KCNA Watch reported.

The news comes as Pyongyang continues its displays of military might.

One state newspaper has likened using foreign aid to "poisoned candy". On Wednesday, Rondong Sinmun wrote that "imperialists" used aid as a "trap to plunder and subjugate" recipient countries.

South Korea's unification ministry has reportedly also sounded the alarm on the food shortages and asked the World Food Programme (WFP) for help.

Satellite imagery from South Korean authorities shows that the North produced 180,000 tonnes less food in 2022 than in 2021.

In June, the WFP raised concerns that extreme weather conditions like drought and flooding could reduce production of both winter and spring crops. State media also reported late last year that the country was experiencing its "second worst" drought on record.

As forecasted, food prices have risen this year amid poor harvests and people have been turning to inexpensive alternatives, said Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein, who works with North Korea-centred publication 38North.org.

The price of corn has risen 20% at the start of 2023, with growing demand for the less preferred - compared to rice - but more affordable staple, reported Rimjin-gang, a North Korean magazine based in Japan.

"If people are buying more corn it means food overall is getting more expensive, and staple foods like rice in particular," Mr Silberstein said. A kilogram of the crop now costs about 3,400 North Korean won (£3.10; $3.80).

North Korea is ranked one of the poorest countries in the world. Recent estimates are scarce, but CIA World Factbook estimates its gross domestic product per capita to be around $1,700 in 2015.

N Korea slams South's 'absurd' offer of aid
Why doesn't North Korea have enough food?
That said, the actual situation and numbers are unclear, given North Korea's opaque economy.

"Due to North Korea's strict Covid border measures on goods and people, there's no way for any outsiders to go into the country and check for themselves what the situation is," said James Fretwell, an analyst at NK News.

People take part in an annual rice planting event in Nampho City in Chongsan-ri, near Nampho on May 12, 2019

These measures have also made it difficult for organisations outside North Korea to send help in times of crisis, he added.

North Korea has also strictly restricted cross-border trade and traffic since January 2020.

Sokeel Park, South Korea country director in non-profit Liberty in North Korea , described the regime's response to the pandemic as "extreme and paranoid".

Mr Park, whose organisation helps resettle North Korean refugees in South Korea or the US, said the supply of basic necessities in the North has been dwindling since the start of the pandemic. Link has heard multiple credible reports of people starving to death, Mr Park said.

The country has also seen a significant decline in humanitarian aid from the international community - the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said North Korea received $2.3m (£1.9m) from international organisations and other agencies last year, down from $14m in 2021.

While this may be a result of prolonged border closures, some relief workers told the BBC that international sanctions, which have tightened in response to North Korea's military provocations, have also hindered the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

Still, there are some signs that cross-border economic activity is starting again. Nikkei Asia reported last week that some truck travel with China, which s for over 90% of North Korea's trade, has resumed.

But that does not necessarily mean standards of living will improve for ordinary North Koreans.


Much of North Korea's spending goes on the military - its latest missile launchers were displayed earlier in February

Mr Park said the regime has focused its resources on its missile prowess and propaganda, at high social costs. Pyongyang fired a record number of ballistic missiles last year - more than 70, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, which can potentially reach the US mainland. Early this month, it showed off its largest-ever display of ICBMs at a military parade.

"The regime has acknowledged how hard things are for ordinary North Korean people, but continues to prioritise propaganda and pageantry for the Kim family, missile launches, and strict controls [on] the population," Mr Park added.

Experts worry that the situation on the ground will deteriorate further, leading to a famine as devastating as the one the country experienced in the mid-to-late 1990s, often known in official documents as the "Arduous March". Estimates put the number of deaths between 600,000 to a million.

"We don't seem to be near the levels of the 1990s famine," Mr Silberstein said. "But margins are razor thin. So even a slightly lessened supply of food could potentially have dire consequences."

source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64701184

They should eat nuclear weapons.
When people ask me what is the benefits of democracy I point them to the Korea peninsula.
While one is prosperous with the third largest economy In Asia 7 largest in the world with multi national conglomerate like Samsung, Kia, LG, hisense,
Hyundai, and it's culture K-pop is wildly accepted in the world.
The other is building up weapons and lunching missles while it's citizenry suffer..

Sat shows that the average South Korea is more taller than its northern counterpart.


A country were a strong man rules supreme the citizens tens to suffer,
Look at Belarus, another failed state, same issue

Failed country. The only person that eats good food in that country is the fat rocket men, his family and close friends.

The west with their propaganda will not let this country rest , it is much easier to produce food than nuclear weapons, shortage of food has never been recurrent under any dictator in the history of this world , the country is a closed economy it's difficult to their claims .one thing that is sure and certain the west will never say anything good about their perceived enemy.it is now left for the masses to assume any side of the story

obedience4:
They should eat nuclear weapons.
When people ask me what is the benefits of democracy I point them to the Korea peninsula.
While one is prosperous with the third largest economy In Asia 7 largest in the world with multi national conglomerate like Samsung, Kia, LG, hisense,
Hyundai, and it's culture K-pop is wildly accepted in the world.
The other is building up weapons and lunching missles while it's citizenry suffer..

Sat shows that the average South Korea is more taller than its northern counterpart.


A country were a strong man rules supreme the citizens tens to suffer,
Look at Belarus, another failed state, same issue

Watcharena:
The west with their propaganda will not let this country rest , it is much easier to produce food than nuclear weapons, shortage of food has never been recurrent under any dictator in the history of this world , the country is a closed economy it's difficult to their claims .one thing that is sure and certain the west will never say anything good about their perceived enemy.it is now left for the masses to assume any side of the story

shortage of food has never been recurrent under any dictator in the history of this world


Only say what you know. How about when you don't know what to say? Just keep quiet and move on. It's more honorable that way.

Karnice600:
North Korea is experiencing a critical food crisis, experts say.

The country is no stranger to chronic food shortages, but border controls, poor weather and sanctions have worsened the situation in recent years.

Top officials are expected to meet at the end of February to discuss a "fundamental change" to agriculture policy, state media has said.

This is a "very important and urgent task" amid "pressing" farming issues, news aggregator KCNA Watch reported.

The news comes as Pyongyang continues its displays of military might.

One state newspaper has likened using foreign aid to "poisoned candy". On Wednesday, Rondong Sinmun wrote that "imperialists" used aid as a "trap to plunder and subjugate" recipient countries.

South Korea's unification ministry has reportedly also sounded the alarm on the food shortages and asked the World Food Programme (WFP) for help.

Satellite imagery from South Korean authorities shows that the North produced 180,000 tonnes less food in 2022 than in 2021.

In June, the WFP raised concerns that extreme weather conditions like drought and flooding could reduce production of both winter and spring crops. State media also reported late last year that the country was experiencing its "second worst" drought on record.

As forecasted, food prices have risen this year amid poor harvests and people have been turning to inexpensive alternatives, said Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein, who works with North Korea-centred publication 38North.org.

The price of corn has risen 20% at the start of 2023, with growing demand for the less preferred - compared to rice - but more affordable staple, reported Rimjin-gang, a North Korean magazine based in Japan.

"If people are buying more corn it means food overall is getting more expensive, and staple foods like rice in particular," Mr Silberstein said. A kilogram of the crop now costs about 3,400 North Korean won (£3.10; $3.80).

North Korea is ranked one of the poorest countries in the world. Recent estimates are scarce, but CIA World Factbook estimates its gross domestic product per capita to be around $1,700 in 2015.

N Korea slams South's 'absurd' offer of aid
Why doesn't North Korea have enough food?
That said, the actual situation and numbers are unclear, given North Korea's opaque economy.

"Due to North Korea's strict Covid border measures on goods and people, there's no way for any outsiders to go into the country and check for themselves what the situation is," said James Fretwell, an analyst at NK News.

People take part in an annual rice planting event in Nampho City in Chongsan-ri, near Nampho on May 12, 2019

These measures have also made it difficult for organisations outside North Korea to send help in times of crisis, he added.

North Korea has also strictly restricted cross-border trade and traffic since January 2020.

Sokeel Park, South Korea country director in non-profit Liberty in North Korea , described the regime's response to the pandemic as "extreme and paranoid".

Mr Park, whose organisation helps resettle North Korean refugees in South Korea or the US, said the supply of basic necessities in the North has been dwindling since the start of the pandemic. Link has heard multiple credible reports of people starving to death, Mr Park said.

The country has also seen a significant decline in humanitarian aid from the international community - the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said North Korea received $2.3m (£1.9m) from international organisations and other agencies last year, down from $14m in 2021.

While this may be a result of prolonged border closures, some relief workers told the BBC that international sanctions, which have tightened in response to North Korea's military provocations, have also hindered the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

Still, there are some signs that cross-border economic activity is starting again. Nikkei Asia reported last week that some truck travel with China, which s for over 90% of North Korea's trade, has resumed.

But that does not necessarily mean standards of living will improve for ordinary North Koreans.


Much of North Korea's spending goes on the military - its latest missile launchers were displayed earlier in February

Mr Park said the regime has focused its resources on its missile prowess and propaganda, at high social costs. Pyongyang fired a record number of ballistic missiles last year - more than 70, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, which can potentially reach the US mainland. Early this month, it showed off its largest-ever display of ICBMs at a military parade.

"The regime has acknowledged how hard things are for ordinary North Korean people, but continues to prioritise propaganda and pageantry for the Kim family, missile launches, and strict controls [on] the population," Mr Park added.

Experts worry that the situation on the ground will deteriorate further, leading to a famine as devastating as the one the country experienced in the mid-to-late 1990s, often known in official documents as the "Arduous March". Estimates put the number of deaths between 600,000 to a million.

"We don't seem to be near the levels of the 1990s famine," Mr Silberstein said. "But margins are razor thin. So even a slightly lessened supply of food could potentially have dire consequences."

source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64701184

Fake news.

Karnice600:



shortage of food has never been recurrent under any dictator in the history of this world


Only say what you know. How about when you don't know what to say? Just keep quiet and move on. It's more honorable that way.

if you have contrary facts you can present your evidence here after all we learn every day

Watcharena:
The west with their propaganda will not let this country rest , it is much easier to produce food than nuclear weapons, shortage of food has never been recurrent under any dictator in the history of this world , the country is a closed economy it's difficult to their claims .one thing that is sure and certain the west will never say anything good about their perceived enemy.it is now left for the masses to assume any side of the story

You are hundred percent right. The empire of lies and their propaganda.

Lol how can they starve when they have a railroad that goes directly to Russia and Russia is one of the world's producer of grains and fertilizers...


Who expects the USA to say anything good about them before

Adjovi:
Lol how can they starve when they have a railroad that goes directly to Russia and Russia is one of the world's producer of grains and fertilizers...


Who expects the USA to say anything good about them before

A railroad with enger trains and infrequent schedules. What is being delivered—famine?

Shut me up—show me 3 recent pictures from credible sources of North Koreans currently living in North Korea, besides the leader and his family, that weigh over 150 lbs and/or don’t appear severely malnourished.

Kingsnairaland:
Fake news.

What do you gain by unleashing your stupidity? How did you come to the conclusion it's a fake news.

Watcharena:
The west with their propaganda will not let this country rest , it is much easier to produce food than nuclear weapons, shortage of food has never been recurrent under any dictator in the history of this world , the country is a closed economy it's difficult to their claims .one thing that is sure and certain the west will never say anything good about their perceived enemy.it is now left for the masses to assume
Many side of the story

All you guys do is shout the west this,propaganda that ,yet South Korea is d actually functioning state of the two and if we ask u to live in one of the korea countries we both know it’s not goin to be North Korea

1stGenAmerican:


A railroad with enger trains and infrequent schedules. What is being delivered—famine?

Shut me up—show me 3 recent pictures from credible sources of North Koreans currently living in North Korea, besides the leader and his family, that weigh over 150 lbs and/or don’t appear severely malnourished.

Asians don't like to have big body structures this is known world wide.

Show me pictures of people starving in NK. Make Una continue to dream . You people have been fed so much propaganda that you believe anyone that does not do business with Europe will starve. Europe is just a small fry in a continent of 7. Make Una dey use Una head na abba



Even China isolated herself and became what it is today.

Adjovi:



Asians don't like to have big body structures this is known world wide.

Show me pictures of people starving in NK. Make Una continue to dream . You people have been fed so much propaganda that you believe anyone that does not do business with Europe will starve. Europe is just a small fry in a continent of 7. Make Una dey use Una head na abba



Even China isolated herself and became what it is today.

Nonsense

[quote author=muhammaduyusufu post=121170246][/quote]




I'm sure you didn't read the article you posted. This was because of the strict closure of borders during the pandemic and not because of sanctions. . Read the article and educate yourself please.

Adjovi:





I'm sure you didn't read the article you posted. This was because of the strict closure of borders during the pandemic and not because of sanctions. . Read the article and educate yourself please.

^^^^

Kingsnairaland:
Nonsense

muhammaduyusufu:

^^^^

Keep looking for articles that will your claims yeye dey smell.

Yet the leader is ing Russia's aggression on food basket Ukraine.

CodeTemplar:
Yet the leader is ing Russia's aggression on food basket Ukraine.

The dictator is very foolish. His people are dying of hunger yet he is spending money on building rockets

Fake News.
The real News is that country has no radical Muslims threatening its stability.There is no homeless, EDUCATION and HEALTH CARE are free. People are not getting evicted from a family house ( due to " unpaid taxes" or mortgage ).

raskymonojendor:

The dictator is very foolish. His people are dying of hunger yet he is spending money on building rockets

if Gaddafi has spent much on rockets like him, he could have been alive today and his country will not be in the ugly shape it is today

raskymonojendor:

The dictator is very foolish. His people are dying of hunger yet he is spending money on building rockets

He is also spending money on food for his family, not anyone else. His young daughter is the size of 2 adult NK soldiers, he is the size of 5.

Everyday nuclear and long range weapons investment. Now see