"COVID-19 and Drought... North Korea Faces 2-3 Months Food Shortage"

CIA Estimates North Korea's Food Shortage at 86 Tons This Year

Last January, North Korean residents were seen in the area of Gaepung-gun, Hwanghaebuk-do, North Korea, across the frozen Imjin River from Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju-si. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimated North Korea's food shortage this year at 860,000 tons. This amount corresponds to 2 to 3 months' worth of food supply for North Korea.

On the 23rd, the CIA stated in the revised "The World Factbook" that "many people in North Korea are suffering from food shortages." The estimated food shortage is the same as the amount the CIA estimated last year.

The CIA said, "Economic constraints caused by the aftermath of COVID-19 have increased the vulnerability of North Korean residents' food security," adding, "If the food shortage is not filled through imports or food aid, North Korean households will face a harsh and difficult time."

North Korea's dire situation is also confirmed through satellite data. According to the Voice of America (VOA), an analysis of satellite data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed that many areas across North Korea are marked in dark red, indicating a 'severe' drought condition.

In April, the areas marked as severely drought-affected were limited to the central regions of North Hwanghae Province and South Hwanghae Province, but currently, the range has expanded to the northern region of Hamgyong Province.

In particular, the representative granary regions of North Hwanghae Province, South Hwanghae Province, and parts of South Hamgyong Province have experienced lower rainfall than usual, and temperatures have been 2.3 degrees Celsius higher than average, likely causing drought damage to crops.

Choe Chung-hee, a North Korean agriculture expert and defector affiliated with the Good Farmers Research Institute, told VOA, "The blockade of North Korea-China trade due to the COVID-19 situation has caused cumulative disruptions in imports of food, fertilizer, and agricultural materials," adding, "If the spring drought causes problems in wheat and barley yields, residents could face a bleak situation even after the spring famine period (Chungunggi) passes."

Meanwhile, the CIA stated in the "Factbook" that North Korea continues to develop ballistic missiles such as close-range ballistic missiles (CRBM), short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM), and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The CIA explained, "North Korea has increasingly relied on illegal activities, including cybercrime, to secure funds necessary for the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles while evading U.S. and U.N. sanctions during the 2010s and 2020s."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.