Food crisis in North Korea: Banana sells for Rs 3,300 per kg, coffee for Rs 7,400

North Korea is facing a severe food crisis with prices of essential commodities rising like never before.

As per state-run news agency KCNA,  North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un said the food situation is tensed. He said that the people’s food situation is now getting tense as the agricultural sector failed to fulfil its grain production plan due to the damage by the typhoon last year.

Reports state that the prices of essential food items have skyrocketed in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. The bananas are sold for $45 (about Rs 3,335), a packet of black tea for $70 (about Rs 5,190) and a packet of coffee for $100 (Rs 7,414).

In a meeting of the central committee of the country’s ruling party, Kim asked the party workers to work for resolving the food shortage. However, it is unclear how North Korea can quickly tackle the issue as the country’s borders remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s report cites that North Korea is short of 8,60,000 tonnes of food.