The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced that North Korea may record a food shortage of 860,000 tons this year, warning that the North Koreans may start facing difficulties from August.

The North Korean regime, subject to a series of international sanctions over its banned military programmes, has long struggled to secure food for its people and regularly suffers from food shortages.

The pressure on the North Korean economy was increased by the border closures to counter the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and a series of storms and floods last year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un admitted in June that his country was facing a "tense food situation."

In a report released Monday, the FAO said that North Korea is expected to produce 5.6 million tons of grain this year, about 1.1 million tons less than what it needs to provide food for its people.

The report stated that "officially expected commercial imports are 205 thousand tons," which means that the food shortage will reach 860,000 tons. 

"If this shortfall is not covered by commercial imports or food aid, families may face a difficult lean period between August and October," he added.

The lean season refers to the phase of the year prior to the harvest during which the grain of the previous harvest may run out.

The closure of the borders decided to combat the coronavirus has led to a significant decline in trade with China, the most prominent economic and political supporter of Pyongyang, while most of the employees of international NGOs based in North Korea have left the country.

Also, several hurricanes last year caused floods that destroyed homes and destroyed crops.

In the 1990s, North Korea witnessed a severe famine that left hundreds of thousands of dead due to the decline in aid provided by Moscow after the collapse of the Soviet Union.