Mass Starvation in North Hamgyeong Province... Food Supply Instability Expected Next Year

This Year, 71 Missiles Fired Wasting Food Costs for 46 Days for North Korean Residents

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] After experiencing the worst food shortage last year, North Korea focused on increasing production, but due to adverse weather and fertilizer shortages, this year's harvest (4.51 million tons) is estimated to have decreased by 180,000 tons compared to the previous year.

On the 19th, a government official stated, "North Korea has been experiencing the worst food shortage since Kim Jong-un took power, and even if they import grain at the usual level next year, there will still be a shortage of about 800,000 tons compared to demand, so food supply instability will continue."

In particular, many starvation deaths occurred in the Hamgyeong Province. Hamgyeong Province is an economically underdeveloped frontier even within North Korea. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, food distribution throughout North Korea was possible through markets such as jangmadang, but with the strengthening of lockdowns, it seems that food conditions in the outskirts deteriorated first.

According to the Rural Development Administration's announcement this month, North Korea's food crop production this year was surveyed at 4.51 million tons, a decrease of 180,000 tons from last year. The North Korean authorities have decided to crack down on distribution corruption and increase the amount purchased by the state. The revision of grain production and distribution-related laws earlier this month is also related to the food shortage.

Despite the severe food shortage, North Korea poured astronomical costs into missile provocations this year.

A government official explained, "North Korea launched 71 missiles this year, and even applying North Korea's production cost, which is lower than that of the West, it is estimated that about 260 billion won (200 million USD) was wasted." In particular, 143 billion won (110 million USD) was spent on launching eight high-cost intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and 50 billion won (39 million USD) was wasted on launching 43 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), according to authorities. The total cost of missile launches is an amount that could buy 500,000 tons of rice, which is enough to feed all North Korean residents for 46 days and covers more than 60% of next year's food shortage (about 800,000 tons), the government official explained.

Furthermore, when trade with Russia resumed, North Korea was found to have imported 'white horses' for the supreme leader's family riding use first, rather than daily necessities.

A government official said, "When the North Korea-Russia train resumed operation in early November after two years, dozens of horses for Kim Jong-un's family and high-ranking officials were imported first instead of livelihood goods."

Russian media reported that Orlov breed horses from Russia were imported first.

The Orlov breed horses, known to be expensive, were ridden by North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un when he climbed Baekdu Mountain in October 2019 and also during commemorative photo sessions with participants of the 90th anniversary parade of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army in April this year.

Regarding North Korea's behavior, some point out that the North Korean regime is fully committed to developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) at the expense of its people’s sacrifices, which may be the true face of the "People First" ideology emphasized by Chairman Kim Jong-un.

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