seoul late summer rain grow importance privately produce crop mean north korea likely avoid acute food shortages year despite early fear drought mount international sanction defectors experts say u.n. food agriculture organisation fao warn july bad drought 16 years country say serious concern lack rainfall key cereal-producing areas people say delay plant dry early spring right rain say kang mi-jin seoul-based daily nk website run defectors crop condition fine say kang say cross-check news harvest several source still inside north korea weather data areas china border north korea main crop zone show rain pick august help alleviate dry condition u.s. department agriculture satellite image suggest north korea crop yield similar last year say kim young-hui north korean defector specialist country economy korea finance corp seoul north korea experience cripple famine 1990s combination bad weather economic mismanagement demise fuel subsidies soviet union destroy state-run public distribution system pds ration fao report describe pds main source food around 70 percent population say increase food import would require ensure adequate food supply at-risk group include children elderly however rise privately produce food sell north korean market slowly overtake pds primary distributor food factor experts say official u.n. report overlook report often produce conjunction north korean government may able focus market give political sensitivity inherently capitalist activity state still outwardly profess maintain soviet-style command economy experts say many people rely completely market off-the-books private farm food say sokeel park liberty north korea organization aid defectors corrupt officials also siphon government supply sell profit say park mean international agencies regurgitation pyongyang official food data take pinch salt years since famine farmers also grant increase autonomy local level proactively change crop stave risk food shortages reduce reliance import north korea grain import total 26.5 million 2016 139.2 million 2012 accord state-run korea trade-investment promotion agency january june import year 10.6 million albeit sharply million period year go price north korean market remain relatively stable continue reliable source food accord defectors closely monitor north korean market price activity u.n. world food programme wfp say still little direct information available important market household food access wfp consult north korean government carry detail study food security late year say email response question another threat north korea food security increase u.n. sanction follow country sixth large nuclear bomb test early month u.n. security council unanimously agree range new measure include impose ban country textile export cap import crude oil fuel gasoline diesel price rise sharply since nuclear test market data analyze reuters monday show sanction likely hit essential items oil sugar salt vinegar milk powder import control centrally distribute via state shop subsidize price wfp say contrast develop countries agriculture north korea rely much mass-mobilization workers rather mechanization harvesters tractors lack oil would likely slow harvest overall impact would significant accord linda lewis american friends service committee ngo run farm project north korea fuel shortages new problem north korean farmers quite resourceful lewis say late summer rain private food supply limit impact north korea drought