North Korean media mentioned yet another new ministry for the first time earlier this month — the Foodstuff Industries Ministry — an organization that has likely grown in political importance as the country has faced a food crisis this year.

The reference to the new ministry on Dec. 10 followed state media’s introduction of the IT Industries Ministry back in May. At the outset, it appeared as though the government had created both organizations at the same time, but leadership changes and other indicators suggest it has been around longer, possibly since mid-2020, predating North Korea’s public acknowledgment