Satellite data reveals lower soil moisture but strong vegetation growth, pointing to improved irrigation methods
A lack of rain in North Korea this spring resulted in lower soil moisture levels, though the dry spell appears to have had a limited impact on crop growth, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite data.
The findings — based on data from NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel-2 satellite — align with DPRK authorities’ repeated warnings about worsening drought conditions this spring, especially in April.
NK Pro analysis using JAXA’s Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation tool indicates that precipitation in the DPRK lagged behind 2025’s
© Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved.
No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for
commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk
Group.