North Korea Ramps Up Drought Prevention Efforts Ahead of Rice Planting Season

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is ramping up efforts to prevent a prolonged drought from damaging crop production ahead of the rice planting season, state media said Thursday, as it has been grappling with food shortages. Citing "an unusually severe drought" for this time of year, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the country is focusing on "various projects to protect crops nationwide." According to the report, officials from relevant government ministries -- including those overseeing grain management and the mining industry, as well as the State Planning Commission -- have been dispatched to offer farming supplies. Officials from the State Science and Technology Commission have also been working to secure irrigation water for agricultural use. Amid these nationwide efforts, Premier Pak Thae-song conducted on-site inspections in key farming areas in the South Pyongan and North Hwanghae provinces to assess the growth status of wheat and barley, and held discussions with local officials on measures to prevent crop damage. The report also noted Pak called on officials to increase the mechanization of farming operations and ensure the thorough implementation of agricultural procedures. North Korea has been on the list of food-deficit countries that requires external assistance by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization for 19 years in a row.