Drought imperils North Korea rice harvest

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PYONGYANG, North Korea, May 27 (UPI) -- The North Korean government is turning its attention to a drought that is jeopardizing the rice crop, state media reports monitored in South Korea said.

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency reported this weekend that May is on track to be one of the driest since 1962, particularly in the west where there has been no precipitation since last month.

Other state media outlets urged North Koreans to find other sources of water for rice paddies and offered advice to farmers on how to nurse other crops through the dry spell.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the drought could throw a wrench into leader Kim Jong-un's consolidation of power if it leads to a food shortage. The new leader has issued two statements recently stressing the importance of food production.