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North Korea says it faces worst drought in a century | North Korea says it faces worst drought in a century |
(about 1 hour later) | |
North Korea says it is facing the worst drought in a century, sparking fears of worsening food shortages. | North Korea says it is facing the worst drought in a century, sparking fears of worsening food shortages. |
State news agency KCNA said main rice-growing provinces had been badly affected and more than 30% of rice paddies were "parching up". | State news agency KCNA said main rice-growing provinces had been badly affected and more than 30% of rice paddies were "parching up". |
Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are believed to have died during a widespread famine in the 1990s. | Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are believed to have died during a widespread famine in the 1990s. |
This drought is unlikely to be as deadly because of recent agricultural reforms, correspondents say. | |
The United Nations World Food Programme says North Korea regularly faces significant food shortage and currently about a third of children in the country are malnourished. | The United Nations World Food Programme says North Korea regularly faces significant food shortage and currently about a third of children in the country are malnourished. |
'Reduce damage' | 'Reduce damage' |
KCNA said granaries in the provinces of South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae, South Phyongan and South Hamgyong were "badly affected". | KCNA said granaries in the provinces of South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae, South Phyongan and South Hamgyong were "badly affected". |
It added that it was planting other crops in rice paddy fields of drought-stricken areas to "reduce damage". | It added that it was planting other crops in rice paddy fields of drought-stricken areas to "reduce damage". |
Last year the country saw its lowest rainfall in 30 years. | Last year the country saw its lowest rainfall in 30 years. |
The BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul says that since the famine in the 1990s, North Korea has allowed more privately organised farming and output has risen. | |
For this reason, food shortages caused by the current drought are unlikely to be on the same scale, he says. | For this reason, food shortages caused by the current drought are unlikely to be on the same scale, he says. |
Other countries, including South Korea, regularly send aid to the North. In April the UN called for $111m (£71m) to fund humanitarian activities in food, nutrition, agriculture and sanitation. | Other countries, including South Korea, regularly send aid to the North. In April the UN called for $111m (£71m) to fund humanitarian activities in food, nutrition, agriculture and sanitation. |