North Korea plans to overcome new international sanctions in part by developing its agricultural sector in 2018, according to an article published in state media Wednesday.

Hyun Jung Su, a representative of Anak County’s Cooperative Farm Management Committee, called rice a “gun shell” for beating the United States in his article on state-controlled news website Uriminzokkiri, stating that successful farming would neutralize international sanctions.

The UN Security Council announced new sanctions against North Korea in Resolution 2397 on December 22. The resolution bans North Korea from supplying, selling, or transferring food and agricultural products but is not intended to negatively affect international