North Korea’s crop output increased by 6% this year thanks to better growing conditions, according to South Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA), a development that could help ease food insecurity after concerns about famine peaked in the spring.

The RDA’s assessment backs up DPRK state media reports that the country enjoyed a bumper harvest but calls into question official claims that credit for the boost goes to improved farming practices.

According to the RDA reportpublished on Friday, the DPRK’s total agricultural output increased from 4.5 million tons in 2022 to 4.8 million tons in 2023. A breakdown by crop