An increasing number of ordinary North Korean soldiers are being rationed a mere 70 grams of food for each meal, which is 30 percent of what is officially recommended by the country, a Seoul-based news media outlet said Monday, citing an inside source.

According to the Daily NK, the North Korean military is providing soldiers with far less food than its regulation 250 grams per meal, although the amount of rations varies depending on the unit.

"Some units provide upwards of 150 grams, others 100 grams," reported the media outlet specializing in the communist country. It gave no details but claimed the informed source lived in the North's Ryanggang Province.

The amount of food rations is far less than the United Nations' minimum recommendation of 600 grams per day.

The media said this is the result of widespread corruption within the North's military.

"Due to the shortage of food, starving soldiers are sustaining themselves by eating wild fruits and berries," the informant told Daily NK said. "Some commanders send entire battalions of troops and order them to collect fruits, nuts and berries," it said. (Yonhap)