(MENAFN) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced a series of measures aimed at increasing grain production and strengthening state control over agriculture. The announcement was made during a four-day meeting of the ruling Workers' Party that ended on Wednesday. However, experts have expressed doubts that these measures are effectively going to address the country's worsening food shortage.

The measures unveiled by Kim were largely a repeat of past policies and are unlikely to have a significant impact on food security, given that North Korea restricts the operation of markets and devotes much of its scarce resources to its nuclear program. While experts agree that the food situation in North Korea is the worst it has been under Kim's 11-year rule, there are currently no signs of an imminent famine or mass deaths.

Kim emphasized the strategic importance of agricultural development and stated that farming goals should be settled without fail. He also called for increased party guidance over the agricultural sector and improvement of rural party work. Despite these efforts, experts remain skeptical that North Korea can solve its food crisis without implementing significant economic reforms and opening up to foreign aid.

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