Land in North Korea is widely known to be barely arable. So if they can’t meet demand domestically, they must import food.
Climate, terrain, and soil conditions are not particularly favorable for farming, with a relatively short cropping season. Only about 17% of the total landmass, or approximately 20,000 km2, is arable, of which 14,000 km2 is well suited for cereal cultivation; the major portion of the country is rugged mountain terrain.[1]
The weather varies markedly according to elevation, and lack of precipitation, along with infertile soil, makes land at elevations higher than 400 meters unsuitable for purposes other than grazing. Precipitation is geographically and seasonally irregular, and in most parts of the country as much as half the annual rainfall occurs in the three summer months. This pattern favors the cultivation of paddy rice in warmer regions that are outfitted with irrigation and flood control networks. Rice yields are 5.3 tonnes per hectare, close to international norms.[2]
But, they have trouble importing food, because the USA has decided to sanction and blockade them. This affects not only direct trade with the USA, but because of the way sanctions work when issued by the USA, any country that also itself does trade with the USA is at risk themselves to be sanctioned by the USA for trading with North Korea.
So, you have a situation where they can’t grow enough domestically, and foreign powers are preventing them from importing the food they need. And you want to say it’s their fault that they have food shortages?
Of note, nearing 100% of North Korea’s foreign trade is with China. Of that, food imports constitute a sizeable portion.
Now, I do not know why they do not import more food (enough to meet all demand) from China; I do not know if China is not allowing it, or if North Korea is not trying it, or if North Korea can not afford it, or what have you. If you have information on this specifically, please provide me sources (and not speculation) so that I can learn.
Food costs money and they’ve chosen to spend what money they have elsewhere. It is a matter of priorities. It’s ok, they don’t have to worry about being voted out of office over failing the public.
If you have information on this specifically, please provide me sources (and not speculation) so that I can learn.
All you did was speculate. That’s useless, to me and to you. You can speculate and imagine what the reality may be, but unless you can show that your imagination aligns with reality, it’s not of any value.
If you want to just throw quips and gotchas, I won’t converse with you, because it’s not fruitful. If you’ll notice, I made a well thought out comment with sources to back up my claims. I was clear when there was something I didn’t know, and expressed the desire to learn. Compare that to your comments.
I’m thinking about what North Korea can do today. Looking ahead.
The choice today is more rocket antics or less. One means more budget for food and less alienation, the other doesn’t. The question is what North Korea does now.
Land in North Korea is widely known to be barely arable. So if they can’t meet demand domestically, they must import food.
But, they have trouble importing food, because the USA has decided to sanction and blockade them. This affects not only direct trade with the USA, but because of the way sanctions work when issued by the USA, any country that also itself does trade with the USA is at risk themselves to be sanctioned by the USA for trading with North Korea.
So, you have a situation where they can’t grow enough domestically, and foreign powers are preventing them from importing the food they need. And you want to say it’s their fault that they have food shortages?
Of note, nearing 100% of North Korea’s foreign trade is with China. Of that, food imports constitute a sizeable portion.
Now, I do not know why they do not import more food (enough to meet all demand) from China; I do not know if China is not allowing it, or if North Korea is not trying it, or if North Korea can not afford it, or what have you. If you have information on this specifically, please provide me sources (and not speculation) so that I can learn.
https://www.fao.org/3/aq118e/aq118e.pdf ↩︎
https://www.38north.org/2013/12/rireson121813/ ↩︎
Food costs money and they’ve chosen to spend what money they have elsewhere. It is a matter of priorities. It’s ok, they don’t have to worry about being voted out of office over failing the public.
Let me quote myself,
All you did was speculate. That’s useless, to me and to you. You can speculate and imagine what the reality may be, but unless you can show that your imagination aligns with reality, it’s not of any value.
If you want to just throw quips and gotchas, I won’t converse with you, because it’s not fruitful. If you’ll notice, I made a well thought out comment with sources to back up my claims. I was clear when there was something I didn’t know, and expressed the desire to learn. Compare that to your comments.
Removed by mod
North Korea could decide to stop alienating itself from the rest of the world with pathetic rocket antics.
Maybe that would help with the import problem.
You’re moving the goalposts. The famine happened far before North Korea had nuclear missiles, and rocket tests were far less common decades ago.
I’m thinking about what North Korea can do today. Looking ahead.
The choice today is more rocket antics or less. One means more budget for food and less alienation, the other doesn’t. The question is what North Korea does now.