A Japanese newspaper is reporting that 40 percent of infants in North Korea are malnourished.

The Asahi Shimbun said the figure stems from a study conducted on some 170 children aged five or under that are living in six different regions of the North. The U.S. conducted the study while leading a food inspection in the communist country.

In order to improve its food situation, North Korea has said it would allow the U.S. to monitor the distribution of aid to prevent the diversion of food to the North’s military. However, the U.S. remains wary.