The United Nations says North Korea will likely see an increase of some 400-thousand tons in cereal production compared to last year thanks to a rich harvest.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday that it made the projection after analyzing satellite imagery, various field reports, fertilizer and seed provision as well as rainfall during the main growing season.

The organization and the World Food Program had conducted annual Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions to the North since 1995, but that Pyongyang had not requested such a mission this year.

The UN organization said that based on its findings, the North’s grain production is expected to reach some three-point-nine million tons this year, the largest crop since 1995.

The organization added that thanks to this year’s rich harvest, the cereal deficit for the 2005 to 2006 marketing year is expected to fall to 890-thousand tons.

The agency also said that the North is likely to maintain national food consumption levels as before, assuming that commercial imports could amount to some 450-thousand tons, with food aid, mostly from South Korea and China, anticipated at 500-thousand tons.

However, the organization was quick to add that despite the abundant harvest, chronic food insecurity will likely persist in the impoverished nation.