North Korea ramped up food imports from China and Russia in the first half of 2023 to the highest levels in years, according to NK Pro analysis of trade data, in an apparent attempt to avert a food crisis that has reportedly led to starvation in some parts of the country.

But experts cautioned that the regime has likely funneled much of the food to elites and the military rather than the hungriest North Koreans, while noting that the dominance of grain and lack of protein sources still leaves many lacking the nutrients they need.

China