Lack of fertilizers adds to North Korea agriculture crisis

North Korean state-run KCNA TV shows corn stalks, shriveled in the heat. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

North Korea expects a reduced harvest this year, not just because of a drought but because of fertilizers, which are made from petroleum, which is under international sanctions, an expert says.

Nam Sung-wook.

"With the record heat, food production in North Korea is expected to be reduced by 5-10 percent this year, said Nam Sung-wook, professor at Korea University's Department of Korean Unification, Diplomacy and Security.

"In particular, a fall in July precipitation will have a negative impact on rice farming," said Nam, whose study focuses on North Korean agriculture and economy.

However, he said that there was a more fundamental reason ― a lack of fertilizer, agricultural machinery and agricultural chemicals.

"North Korea's repeated failure year after year to achieve its crop production goal shows that the country does not have the economic conditions to maximize productions," Nam said. "For example, North Korea cannot produce (enough amount of) chemical fertilizers because they are made out of refined crude oil. North Korea's crude oil imports have been under sanctions since last year."

He said North Korea's media often promoted the development of compound fertilizers to increase agricultural production, but those compounds were organic, and there was a limit. Another problem was the way the socialist cooperative farms operated, with no incentives for workers.

"The development of the general economy and the introduction of private farms to give incentives are necessary to increase food production," he said. "The Rodong Sinmun reports can also be seen as a signal to both South Korea and the U.S., to offer food aid, while also calling on residents to be patient."

The workers' party mouthpiece carried front page reports on Thursday and Friday for two consecutive days about the country's struggle with drought.

Rodong Sinmun also emphasized that solving the food problem was a "pressing task," as was securing an adequate supply of water.

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