Recurring flooding and droughts have aggravated existing chronic undernutrition and poor health issues in North Korea, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said in its annual mid-year report on North Korea’s food security and health situation.

According to the “2017 DPR Korea Situation Report” released late last week, an estimated 18 million North Koreans – approximately 70 percent of the population – are food insecure and 200,000 children are affected by acute malnutrition.

UNICEF reported, however, that its programs for the treatment of acute malnutrition had managed to achieve high geographical coverage, with treatment services available in roughly 90