North Korea's total grain production is expected to drop 470-thousand tons this year, which will likely lead to tight food supplies in 2008.

The Rural Development Administration in Seoul predicts the North's grain output will fall eleven percent to four million tons from last year's four-and-half million tons. The figures are based on analysis of the North's weather, pest problems, and supplies of fertilizer and farm equipment.

This year's corn production is forecast to fall 160-thousand tons to one-point-six million tons. The bean crop yield is expected to fall to 150-thousand tons.

An administration official says the North's expected four-million-ton grain output is only 62 percent of its estimated yearly demand of six-and-a-half million tons. The official forecast major difficulty for North Korea next year.