Estimated 11 million North Koreans malnourished, according to UN

Over 43 per cent of North Korea's population suffers undernutrition as lack of modern fertilisers and recurrent natural disasters result in food shortfalls.

Millions of North Koreans are malnourished according to a new report. Source: AP

A UN report says an estimated 11 million people in North Korea - over 43 per cent of the population - are undernourished and "chronic food insecurity and malnutrition is widespread".

The report by Tapan Mishra, the head of the UN office in North Korea, said the widespread undernutrition threatens an entire generation of children, with one-in-five children stunted due to chronic undernutrition.

With only limited health care and a lack of access to clean water and sanitation, "children are also at risk of dying from curable diseases," the report added.

Millions of North Koreans are malnourished according to a new report. Source: AP

Mishra said last year's UN appeal for $US111 million to help six million of North Korea's most vulnerable people was only 24 per cent funded.

The UN humanitarian team in the country is calling for $US120 million "to urgently provide life-saving aid to 3.8 million people."

Without adequate funding this year, some agencies providing desperately needed help to North Koreans will be forced to close down.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said North Korea's government last month asked for help from international humanitarian groups to combat food shortages.

Food production figures provided by North Korea showed a food gap of about 1.4 million tons expected for 2019, including rice, wheat, potato and soybeans.

Donald Trump failed to secure a denuclearisation deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi. Source: AAP

North Korea faces annual shortfalls in agricultural production because of a shortage of arable land, lack of access to modern agricultural equipment and fertilisers, and recurrent natural disasters, the report says.

Last year, there was a severe heat wave in provinces considered to be the country's "food basket," and the food situation was further aggravated by Typhoon Soulik in late August.

He said an estimated 3 per cent of children under age 5 - approximately 140,000 - "suffer from wasting or acute malnutrition" and "have a higher risk of mortality."

Huge waves surge up against the shoreline ahead of Typhoon Soulik. Source: AP

While UN Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs are supposed to exempt humanitarian activities, "humanitarian agencies continue to face serious unintended consequences on their programs," Mishra said.

He cited "lack of funding, the absence of a banking channel for humanitarian transfers and challenges to the delivery of humanitarian supplies."