The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that North Korea is likely to face a severe food shortage amid a total border lockdown.

"With commercial imports officially planned at 205,000 tons, the uncovered food gap is estimated at about 860,000 tons, equivalent to approximately 2.3 months of food use," an FAO report early this week warned.

Domestically, the North is only capable of harvesting a "near average level" of 5.6 million tons of crops this year.

Unless the supply gap is "adequately covered through commercial imports and/or food aid, households could experience a harsh lean period from August to October, when the 2021 main season crops will be available for consumption," it added.

North Korea sealed its borders at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in a catastrophic drop in supplies from China.

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