Abstract
The present study was conducted to document North Korea's long standing food shortage situation and to evaluate the devastating effects of its recent food crisis on the already poor health and nutritional state of the people in North Korea. We analyzed the mail survey data on food consumption patterns and anthropometry of 109 North Korean defectors, male, aged 20 years and older, who resettled in the South during the period of 1988-1999. The result of our survey data indicated that during 1988-1993 when North Korea's food supply was not yet emerged as a serious problem, food and nutrient intake of North Korean defectors was estimated to be significantly lower that the recommended intake levels for maintenance. Energy and protein intake of subjects who defected further with the recent food crisis. For subjects who defected after 1994, the total and animal food intakes were reduced to 67% and 25%, respectively, of the amounts consumed by those who defected in the period of 1988-1993, and their energy and protein intake was decreased by 27% and 30% to the level of 1,181kcal and 40g. Regardless of the time of defection, the mean height and body weight of defectors was significantly lower than that of South Korean reference men. The prevalence of infectious diseases and malnutrition signs was higher among defectors who resettled in the South after 1994 compared to those who resettled during 1988-1993.
