N. Korea's food shortage running deep

/Yonhap

By Lee Jin-a

North Korea produced 1.8 million tons of rice last year, up 0.3 million tons from a year earlier, the U.S.-based Voice of America said Friday.

But the country needs at least 5.4 million tons of grain a year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The reclusive state secured 2.7 million tons more with other grains in 2015, but was still short 0.9 million tons for annual demand, the FAO said.

Quoting the FAO’s biannual report, “Food Outlook,” the VOA said North Korea secured 1.9 million tons of rice, including 100,000 tons it will import.

But the isolated state still has the least amount of rice among the 14 Asian countries, along with Iraq.

According to the report, each North Korean citizen will have 68 kilograms of rice, on average, from this fall until next summer.

The FAO also estimated that the North secured 2.6 million tons of corn and 117,000 tons of pork last year.