Some North Korean military units have shortened the period of their training exercises due to food shortages, suggesting this year’s shortages of food surpass those of previous years, Daily NK has learned.
According to a source in South Pyongan Province last Thursday, regional reserve units begun their “new academic year training” in December, but “they are unable to properly train due to food shortages.”
“New academic year training” refers to the winter military training regularly undertaken by the Korean People’s Army (KPA).
The KPA conducts two training periods, a “winter training” session from December to March and a “summer training” session from July to September.
The KPA’s regular annual training includes simultaneous ideological education and large-scale military drills in accordance with orders from the supreme commander, or Kim Jong Un.
This year’s winter training follows an order issued in the name of the supreme commander on Nov. 21 titled, “Tasks for Operational and Battle Politics Training for the 2022-2023 New Academic Year.”
During the December part of the KPA’s winter training, units ordinarily engage in small, company-strength drills in areas nearby where they are stationed.
This year, however, some of the units preparing for these drills have experienced food shortages, the source told Daily NK.
For example, one of the territorial reserve units in South Pyongan Province shortened a collective training exercise scheduled to have started on Dec. 15 by two days due to food shortages, the source said.
“Many regiment-strength units are suffering significant difficulties due to food problems,” he continued, adding, “The unit reported the problem to their superiors and asked for measures to be taken, but all they heard in return were curses and blame. Commanders simply tell you to solve the problem on your own, providing no help at all.”
North Korea has been suffering from chronic food shortages, but the problem seems to have worsened this year.
In fact, Daily NK reported last month that military units in Yanggang Province were not receiving proper rations. At the time, the source said that units around the province would be forced to make do with potatoes instead of rice through February.
BAD WEATHER, COVID-19 AND SANCTIONS TO BLAME
North Korea’s state-run media has not shied away from hiding the country’s poor food situation.
On Dec. 12, Rodong Sinmun reported that North Korea has suffered from “disastrous climate phenomena” including “droughts, flooding, hail and cold weather damage” from early spring to autumn, and that there were “far fewer sunshine days.”
In particular, it reported that farmers say the unseasonably cold weather from late August to mid-September “had a worse impact than several typhoons.”
North Korea’s food shortages are likely serious when considering not only the poor weather, but also the continued closure of its borders and international sanctions.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might be emphasizing the resolution of food shortages as his top priority, but the outlook for an improvement in the food situation is not bright.
Daily NK’s source in South Pyongan Province said territorial reserve units have received less than 50% of the military rice stores they were supposed to get. “Food shortages this year are really serious,” he added.
Meanwhile, North Korea reportedly imported large amounts of grain from China last month.
Quoting Chinese customs statistics, Voice of America reported on Nov. 21 that China shipped 30,172 tons of rice worth USD 12.83 million to North Korea last month.
This was the largest total since North Korea closed the border due to COVID-19.
North Korea also imported 6,596 tons of wheat flour worth about USD 2.38 million. However, China’s trade with North Korea was down about 18% from October.
Basically, this means that while total trade with China fell, food imports from China significantly increased.
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