Hundreds of thousands of North Korean children suffer from malnutrition, and experts estimate that nearly 1 in 5 experience stunted growth as a result. Child mortality rates are five times higher than in South Korea.

And a recently revealed DPRK law makes clear that the state is aware of the problem and is struggling to do something about it.

International aid agencies have been trying to address child malnutrition in North Korea for almost three decades, but little has been written about how the regime seeks to tackle the issue independent of the international community.