According to the Daily NK website, an inspection of soybean cultivation in units was ordered at the border guard unit in Ryanggang province (the northern part of the country, right next to the border with China).
Soybeans play a key role in the agricultural activities of the North Korean military. Due to the chronic food shortage in the country, military units have been growing cereals and vegetables for years. Formally, soybean cultivation is not the responsibility of the military, but the harvest results influence the commanders' assessments. In the past, many of them had falsified reports, but this time the inspection was to be carried out personally by the brigade management.
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Therefore, commanders sent their subordinates to the homes of friendly civilians to borrow soy bags for the duration of the inspection. At the same time, they promised to return the food after the inspection.
“Civilians associated with commanders or commissioners are reluctant to refuse such requests. People living next to the garrison are afraid that a conflict with the military may negatively affect their lives. Therefore, although borrowing soybeans is a burden, refusing would be risky,” says the Daily NK interlocutor.
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After the inspection, residents hoped for the return of the borrowed soybeans. However, part of the harvest was most likely taken by soldiers who exchanged it for alcohol and cigarettes.
As reported in July 2021 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, North Korea was already 860,000 short. tons of food. This is equivalent to approximately two months of production in the country.
