In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, below-average rains, coupled with high temperatures from mid-July until mid-August, resulted in moisture stress during critical crop development stages in localized areas of the main crop producing provinces, including South and North Hwanghae, and South and North Hamgyong.

According to official estimates the dry spell affected 98 892 hectares of cropland, mostly paddy, maize and potatoes, representing 8 percent of the average area cultivated in the main season. Any drop in production could further aggravate food insecurity.