North Korea is reeling with an acute food shortage of around 860,000 tonnes this year, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation said warning that the country could experience a “harsh lean period” very soon.  The impoverished country had suffered several deadly famines in the past too the repercussions of it can still be observed in the other economy.

On top of all, its commander Kim Jong-Un‘s ‘military first’ attitude has pushed the country under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes which has profusely restricted its international trade mechanism.

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While it is very difficult to get the exact and reliable information about North Korea’s food shortage, due to high data secrecy and monitoring. Here is what we know so far about the situation.

What caused this food shortage?

Shortage of crop fertilizers

However, it is one of the many lesser-known, facts about North Korea but Kim’s kingdom is dealing with some serious shortage of fertilizers.

The country itself is not sufficient in fertilizer production, and according to Nikkei Asia in February, one of its major fertilizer-producing factories had to shut down due to a lack of spare parts.

It is believed that this happened due to the closure of the border with China in January 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  China is North Korea’s largest trading partner.

Weather has damaged crops

According to the Paris-based agricultural monitoring organisation, GEOGLAM, April to September 2020 was one of the wettest periods for North Korea since 1981. The Korean peninsula was hit by a series of typhoons in August and September. This is the harvesting period for its most prominent crops Rice and corn.

Surge in food prices– an indicator of shortage

Prices of edible commodities, even the most basic ones are touching the sky in North Korea. According to media reports, the price of bananas in the country’s capital Pyongyang, is $45 (about Rs 3,335), a packet of black tea for $70 (about Rs 5,190), and a packet of coffee for $100 (Rs 7,414).

This is one of the clearest indicators of a brutal food shortage.

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No aids available 

Two of the primary causes that North Korea is also facing food aid problems are the COVID-19 pandemic and the sanctions.

COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to close its borders for others and that is why North Korea is unable to gain food aid from other countries including its biggest and closest trader China. 

Apart from that, Kim Jong-Un’s highly nuclear and military approach has put North Korea in the bad books for many nations capable of helping it. The innumerable sanctions that restricts North Korea’s international trade to a great extend is a cherry on the top.