In its quarterly report, the World Food Program (WFP) said 81 percent or 93 of 115 North Korean households surveyed belonged to the "poor food consumption" category or the category between having adequate and poor food consumption.
The survey was conducted by the WFP's Pyongyang office between April and June, according to the Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA).
Two-thirds of those questioned said they coped with the food shortage either by relying on support from relatives or friends, or eating cheaper food, the report said.
Fourteen percent of the pollees reduced their portions, whereas 3 percent skipped meals, the WFP report said.
In a related development, the Voice of America said the North Korean food situation has improved slightly since a year ago when 87 percent of the people surveyed suffered from shortages.
On Tuesday, the RFA reported that the WFP has begun shipments of corn to North Koreans hit hard by recent flooding caused by torrential rain.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com