How serious is the food situation in North Korea? The view from the official data



Analysis How serious is the food situation in North Korea? The view from the official data While the DPRK is undoubtedly facing looming shortages, the numbers don't always tell the full story Peter Ward May 15, 2019 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON by nknews_hq on 2018-09-06 05:32:53 Update at 1830 KST on 05/23: This article has been amended to clarify some of the data. Several weeks ago, the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) released a concerning report about North Korea’s harvest and the food shortfall they believe the country faces. However, given what is known from other officially-sanctioned DPRK sources about the North Korean food system, the picture appears far more complex than this report indicates. NK Pro analysis indicates the following: If official statistics are to be believed, per capita food availability is down significantly compared to recent years, the Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties 02All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024 03No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia 04What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care 05North Korean Il-76 cargo planes make rare flights to northeast coast 06From aid to academia: The status of foreign organizations in North Korea 07North Korea expanding rail access to airport near Wonsan mega resort: Imagery 08Assad’s fall deprives North Korea of a fellow pariah, but its focus is elsewhere

Analysis

How serious is the food situation in North Korea? The view from the official data

While the DPRK is undoubtedly facing looming shortages, the numbers don't always tell the full story

Peter Ward May 15, 2019

How serious is the food situation in North Korea? The view from the official data

by nknews_hq on 2018-09-06 05:32:53

Update at 1830 KST on 05/23: This article has been amended to clarify some of the data.

Several weeks ago, the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) released a concerning report about North Korea’s harvest and the food shortfall they believe the country faces. However, given what is known from other officially-sanctioned DPRK sources about the North Korean food system, the picture appears far more complex than this report indicates.

NK Pro analysis indicates the following:

If official statistics are to be believed, per capita food availability is down significantly compared to recent years, the

01How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties
02All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024
03No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia
04What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care
05North Korean Il-76 cargo planes make rare flights to northeast coast
06From aid to academia: The status of foreign organizations in North Korea
07North Korea expanding rail access to airport near Wonsan mega resort: Imagery
08Assad’s fall deprives North Korea of a fellow pariah, but its focus is elsewhere

How serious is the food situation in North Korea? The view from the official data

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Peter Ward