North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has secured a promise of large-scale flour aid from Russian President Vladimir Putin during their summit held in Beijing, China on Sept. 3. He issued direct orders to the Cabinet for follow-up preparations immediately upon returning home.
According to a Daily NK source on Thursday, Kim issued instructions to the economic department of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Cabinet on Sept. 6—immediately after returning from his China visit—to urgently proceed with preparations for massive imports of Russian flour.
Consequently, a temporary organization called the “National Grain Import Committee” was urgently established on Sept. 7 and began operations.
This flour import appears to be compensation for North Korea’s deployment of soldiers and provision of war materials to support Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war, coinciding with North Korea’s chronic food shortages and Russia’s abundant wheat harvest.
33,000-ton aid package mobilizes entire state apparatus
The source revealed that “the committee is inspecting ports, railways, and land routes for large-scale imports of Russian flour, conducting comprehensive surveys of logistics transportation and storage capabilities.” He added: “Preparations are being made thoroughly so that loading and transport can begin immediately once relevant documents are exchanged with Russia.”
The documents exchanged between the two countries outline an aid quantity of 33,000 tons, with implementation planned in two phases from the end of this year through August of next year, according to the source. Notably, the price section remains blank, signifying that this is unilateral Russian aid to North Korea, with no separate payment required.
North Korea plans to import Russian flour through ports including Rason and Chongjin, as well as the Hasan-Rajin railway. Security around ports and railways will be reinforced by mobilizing the Korean People’s Army, along with police and state security agencies.
The source said: “This national-level flour transport operation will mobilize not only the cabinet’s Ministry of Land and Marine Transport and Ministry of Railways, but also the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Social Security, and Ministry of State Security.” he add that “imported quantities will be stockpiled in State Affairs Commission strategic material warehouses near Pyongyang.”
To this end, North Korea plans to finalize transportation and storage procedures for flour imports between October and December this year, and establish field command centers in major ports and railways in North Hamgyong province to manage these operations.
The source also noted that contingency plans are being developed to coordinate with domestic milling and processing units in case whole wheat is imported instead of flour.
While the flour will initially flow to the political elite, market dynamics could provide broader relief. “Leadership gets first priority, but some will inevitably leak into the markets,” the source predicted. “When that happens, food prices should drop, and people who know about this deal are already talking hopefully about getting some breathing room this winter.”
For ordinary North Koreans enduring another harsh year of food shortages, even the prospect of cheaper grain prices represents a rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak economic landscape.
