Alarms sound over North Korea's deepening food crisis
North Korea is experiencing a critical food crisis, experts say.and sanctions have worsened the situation in recent years.
Satellite imagery from South Korean authorities shows that the North produced 180,000 tonnes less food in 2022 than in 2021. 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.
"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.A file photo shows North Koreans taking part in an annual rice planting event in Nampho city in 2019
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 from international organisations and other agencies last year, down from $14m in 2021.
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