SEOUL, 23 February, 2021 (TON): As restrictions on import remains in place, the WFP (World Food Program) could suspend its operations in North Korea, a report stated on Tuesday.

According to the report, the U.N. aid agency has continued to be faced with difficulties in deploying its staff in the North, with its physical monitoring activities being curtailed for a prolonged period of time.

The WFP said, "Pandemic-related restrictions do not ease and food imports, international staff deployments and physical monitoring access remain curtailed for a prolonged period.”

"WFP will opportunistically use windows in which food imports are allowed to replenish and optimize in-country stocks and mitigate against import delays. However, there is a significant residual risk that, should food imports not be possible, operations will cease in 2021," it added.

Due to Pyongyang's tightened border controls put in place since early last year, the humanitarian aid efforts in the North have been severely hampered.

North Korea is believed to be faced with a food shortage of about 1.2 million to 1.3 million tons this year. However, the country is exploring various ways to provide food and fertilizers in humanitarian assistance.