North Korean authorities recently conducted an investigation into a farm producing cabbage for Pyongyang denizens that suffered from poor crop yields due to pests and disease, Daily NK has learned.<\/p>\n
\u201cA vegetable farm in Chongpyong County that supplies Pyongyang had a poor cabbage harvest, and the government urgently sent a team to investigate on July 13,\u201d a source from North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Monday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The farm produces cabbage and cucumber for Pyongyangites, but the cabbage began rotting from the roots and falling apart due to damage from an unidentified disease, along with pests. The farm was, accordingly, only able to meet 40% of its production target.<\/span><\/p>\n Since orders to supply vegetables to Pyongyang have come directly from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, farm workers were fearful they would be punished if they failed to fulfill their obligations. They attempted to salvage the situation on their own, but were ultimately unable to do so and submitted a petition to the authorities on July 6.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe farmers had no choice but to report [the problem] to the government because all vegetable farms are busy producing crops [for Pyongyang] following [Kim Jong Un\u2019s] order guaranteeing Pyongyangites vegetables,\u201d the source said.<\/span><\/p>\n