North Korea is on course to restore nearly 6,500 square miles of forest area under a 10-year reforestation campaign launched in 2015, according to new analysis of satellite imagery, though experts warn the gains may be temporary without measures to address underlying fuel shortages.

In a study published on Friday, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) found that the DPRK added approximately 1.33 million hectares (5,135 square miles) of forest cover between 2014 and 2023, achieving 79.1% of its stated goal to restore 1.68 million hectares (6,487 square miles) by 2024.

The study analyzed 23 years of MODIS satellite data from