The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced that North Korea might face a food shortage of 860,000 tons this year, warning that its citizens may start struggling as of August.

The North Korean government, subject to a series of international sanctions, has long faced difficulties in securing food for its people and regularly suffers from food shortages.

Pressure on the North Korean economy has been increased by the border closures to counter the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the series of storms and floods which hit the country last year. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un admitted in June that his country was facing a "tense food situation."

In a report issued on Monday, the "FAO" claimed that North Korea is expected to produce 5.6 million tons of grain this year - about 1.1 million tons less than what it needs to provide food for its people.

The report stated that “commercial imports were officially planned at 205,000 tons," which means that the food shortage will reach 860,000 tons, adding that "if this gap is not adequately covered through commercial imports and/or food aid, households could experience a harsh lean period (referring to the phase of the year prior to the harvest during which the grain of the previous harvest may run out) from August to October." 

The closure of the borders, a measure to combat the spread of COVID-19, also led to a significant decline in trade with China, the most prominent economic and political supporter of Pyongyang. In parallel, most of the employees of international NGOs based in North Korea left the country.

Another influential factor would be the several hurricanes which ended up causing floods, destroying homes and crops last year.