Seoul - The population of North Korea is facing a year of privation due to the ongoing food crisis in the country, according to a report by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Monday.

Around 40 per cent of the population or around 8.7 million people - primarily children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly - may require urgent aid, the report said, adding that the coming months may see a serious food shortages due to a deficit in cereals.

After a two-week mission to North Korea in October, the report authors estimated that food production for the financial year of November 2008 to October 2009 will total around 4.21 million tons. The number which includes commercial imports represents a deficit of 836,000 tons.

"The findings of the mission confirms WFP's fears that millions of (North Korean) households will suffer through yet another year of food shortages," wrote WFP representative for North Korea Torben Due.

Years of mismanagement, natural catastrophes and the loss of support by the former Soviet Union are considered the main causes of North Korea's food shortages, which have be ongoing for more than a decade. (dpa)