A new UN report published on April 1 has outlined the humanitarian challenges facing North Korea in 2015 in the area of medical and health services, water security, sanitation, food security and its vulnerability to natural disasters.

The report reveals that UN agencies are asking for $111 million in funding to fill critical gaps in these areas for 2015, which include longstanding chronic food shortages.

“From a population of 24.6 million, approximately 70 per cent (18 million) are food insecure and highly vulnerable to shortages in food production,” the report read.

The report titled DPR Korea 2015: Needs and Priorities