[imbokodo]

You're correct, China had a long history of famines prior to the communist party coming to power in 1949. Shortly after they took power, and achieved stability in Korea, they began to set the stage to end this from happening again.

I never heard of a famine in 1985 though.

[ChoGGi]

I'm not sure why you're getting down-voted, China has had quite a long history of famines (usually lack of rain in the northwest).

The last one was '59-'61.

[jessaustin]

Lots of weather patterns are said to have changed since then. Is the northwest more consistently rainy now?