North Korea will face 860,000 tonnes of food shortage and harsh lean period in 2021

The acute food shortage in North Korea where the worth of a packet of coffee has gone up to $100 is simply the start of a harsh, lean period within the country, the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organisation has forwarned, estimating North Korea's food shortage of this year at around 860,000 tonnes this year. The country could experience a "harsh lean period" as early as next month, the UN body has said.

According to the FAO report, as quoted by AFP, North Korea is projected to supply a "near-average level" of 5.6 million tonnes of grain this year, which is around 1.1 million tonnes in need of the quantity required to feed its entire population. With "commercial imports officially planned at 205,000 tonnes", North Korea will likely face a food shortage of around 860,000 tonnes.

"If this gap isn't adequately covered through commercial imports and/or food aid, households could experience a harsh lean period from August to October", it said.

Why is this food crisis situation in North Korea?

In June, North Korean leader Kim Jon Un formally addressed the food shortage issue of the country and said things is now getting tense. Reports said the worth of rice skyrocketed in June and corn has been on the rising path since the start of 2021. South Korea's Korea Institute of National Unification has said rice price has soared due to a scarcity of supply. In 2020, North Korean grain production also fell by an estimate of 5.2 per cent.

Several key officialdom are replaced apparently for the mismanagement of the crisis.

North Korea shut its borders since 2020 amid the pandemic, while its own agriculture sector failed due to flood damage. All these, compounded with the continued international sanctions on the country, have led to the present situation. But the food crisis wasn't unforeseen because the crunch began from last year itself. consistent with a report from the US department of agriculture, North Koreans were eating 445 calories less each day than the two ,100-calorie diet recommended by the United Nations .

How will North Korea overcome the food crisis?

In a piece of writing , South China Morning Post has said "emaciated" Kim Jong Un will last out the famine in North Korea with China's help. Kim's greetings to Xi Jinping on the 100th anniversary of the inspiration of the Chinese Communist Party are being interpreted by experts as a message from Kim that North Korea's strong ties with Beijing will help Pyongyang navigate the crisis.