Land of Drought, People of Flood 1995-2025 North Korea, Food Insecurity Memories and Present

Land of Drought, People of Flood 1995-2025 North Korea, Food Insecurity Memories and Present

North Korea's food situation has faced many challenges over the years: in the mid-1990s, a combination of natural disasters and economic difficulties led to a massive famine. Estimates range from hundreds of thousands to millions of people were killed. In response to this crisis, the international community, including the World Food Program (WFP), began providing assistance from 1995 onward.

In particular, in the summer of 1995, the entire DPRK was hit by devastating torrential rains: record-breaking rains in July and August submerged about 15% of the farmland, drastically reducing the harvest of rice and corn, the country's staple food. The already tight food situation worsened further, leading to a severe famine. The floods caused devastating damage not only to farmland, but also to housing and infrastructure, affecting millions of people. The disaster also highlighted structural problems, such as overcutting of forests and weak drainage systems.

This catastrophe prompted the WFP to begin providing food aid to North Korea in earnest, with a total of $635 million worth of food provided through 2023.

In recent years, North Korea's food production has temporarily recovered, and in 2013, the country is said to have approached self-sufficiency in staple foods. However, the nutritional balance remains inadequate, with protein intake in particular being a challenge. In addition, climate change has caused frequent extreme weather events and floods, which have severely impacted agricultural production; floods and pest damage have been reported in 2024, increasing concerns about food shortages. Nevertheless, the North Korean government has maintained a policy of minimal foreign aid and emphasized self-sufficiency.

In early 2024, Kim Jong-un acknowledged that "the inadequate food supply is a serious political problem" and stressed the need for agricultural reform and economic development. At the end of the same year, he celebrated the completion of a new fish-farming facility, and has also shown a commitment to promoting fisheries and rural development.

In addition, the strengthening of relations with Russia has provided some support, with the country supplying approximately 2,000 tons of flour and corn. Experts, however, point out that this alone will not lead to a fundamental solution. Despite efforts to modernize agriculture and fisheries, many of the people still face chronic food shortages.

Related Information
Torrential rains in 1995: 15% of farmland submerged and famine worsened.
WFP assistance: Provided a total of $635 million worth of food from 1995 to 2023.
Status in 2024: Continued flooding and pest damage, and severe protein shortages.
Status in 2025: Rural development and promotion of fisheries are being promoted. Partial food aid from Russia is also being provided.