- North Korea's harvest threatened by heavy rain
Heavy rainfall in North Korea is likely to significantly reduce crop yields. According to a report published on Monday by the World Food Organization, the extreme rainfall in July has led to flooding on rice and corn fields. In the provinces of Hwanghae and Pyongan, considered the most important agricultural regions of North Korea, rainfall in July was up to over 80 percent above the annual average.
Heavy rainfall is forecasted until October, the report states. Additionally, the increased temperatures in August will heighten the risk of pest infestation on the crop yields.
North Korea, due to regular natural disasters and decades of mismanagement, is dependent on international food aid. A significant portion of the population is estimated to be chronically undernourished.
In late July, North Korean state media acknowledged severe flooding in the northwest of the country. According to the news agency KCNA, along the border city of Sinuiju near China, over 4,000 households were affected and nearly 3,000 hectares of farmland were damaged. KCNA made no mention of possible fatalities.
North Korea is particularly vulnerable to flooding due to its high deforestation rate.
The ongoing heavy rainfall in North Korea, extending until October, could exacerbate its food crisis given its reliance on international food aid. The excessive rainfall and flooding in key agricultural regions like Hwanghae and Pyongan are expected to further decrease North Korea's limited crop yields.
