North Korea is currently grappling with a “severe and unusual” drought spanning the majority of its territory, according to the state-run news agency KCNA. Official reports indicate that the lack of rainfall is a phenomenon rarely seen in previous years, raising immediate alarms for the isolated nation’s fragile agricultural sector and overall food security.
The timing of the dry spell is particularly critical as it coincides with the beginning of the planting season. In response, workers across various regions have reportedly been mobilized to protect early-season crops, such as wheat and barley.
Local authorities are also rushing to repair reservoir gates and secure dwindling water supplies as river levels drop. These emergency technical measures are being framed by state media as a desperate effort to ensure stable crop growth in the face of dwindling resources.
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Concerns over North Korea’s ability to feed its population are already high. Earlier this year, Elizabeth Salmon, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, identified food shortages as a primary concern. The country’s infrastructure is notoriously weak, meaning natural disasters—whether floods or droughts—often result in disproportionate economic damage and human suffering.
This drought follows a period of extreme climate volatility in the region. In 2025, South Korea recorded its hottest summer in history, and both North and South experienced their warmest June on record.
While North Korea dealt with devastating floods near the Chinese border in 2024, the current shift toward extreme heat and drought is expected to be exacerbated by the return of the El Niño weather phenomenon. For a population with limited access to electricity and modern cooling, the intensifying heatwaves and water scarcity present a looming humanitarian challenge.
