DATE=12/4/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223647
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / FOOD (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL STATIONED IN NORTH KOREA SAYS
THE FOOD SITUATION IN THE ISOLATED COUNTRY IS GETTING WORSE AND
COULD REACH CRISIS PROPORTIONS BY EARLY NEXT YEAR. V-O-A'S ROGER
WILKISON REPORTS FROM BEIJING THAT THE U-N OFFICIAL SAYS THAT
--DESPITE INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID AND ITS OWN EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH
THE SITUATION -- NORTH KOREA FACES SEVERE MALNUTRITION OVER THE
LONG-TERM.
TEXT: DOUGLAS COUTTS -- WHO HEADS THE U-N'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
IN NORTH KOREA--SAYS THE COUNTRY'S CITIZENS WILL GET JUST ENOUGH
FOOD TO SURVIVE ONUNTIL FEBRUARY OR MARCH, WHEN ITS DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM WILL RUN OUT OF SUPPLIES.
MR. COUTTS TOLD REPORTERS IN BEIJING THAT THE NORTH KOREAN
GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED THE BASIC FOOD SUPPLY TO 400 GRAMS OF
RICE OR MAIZE PER PERSON PER DAY TO TIDE ITS CITIZENS OVER THE
HARSH WINTER AHEAD. BUT HE SAYS THAT, BY FEBRUARY, THE COUNTRY'S
FOOD DEFICIT WILL RISE TO NEARLY TWO MILLION TONS OF GRAIN.
PLEDGED FOOD AID AND COMMERCIAL IMPORTS, INCLUDING BARTER TRADE
WITH CHINA, ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE UP HALF OF THAT. BUT MR. COUTTS
SAYS HE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE SITUATION OVER THE LONG TERM.
/// COUTTS ACT ///
THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE VERY KEY SEGMENTS OF THE
POPULATION ARE EXPERIENCING A VERY SERIOUS INCREASING
LEVEL OF MALNUTRITION, AND IT'S A VERY SLOW, GRADUAL,
BUILDING SITUATION. IT'S BECOMING WORSE.
/// END ACT ///
NORTH KOREA WAS HIT BY FLOODS IN 1995 AND 1996 AND BY A DROUGHT
AND A TYPHOON THIS YEAR. THE EFFECTS OF THOSE NATURAL DISASTERS
HAVE BEEN COMPOUNDED BY FUEL SHORTAGES THAT HAVE LED TO THE
BREAKDOWN OF THE COUNTRY'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND A
LACK OF HEATING IN SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS.
MR. COUTTS SAYS THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL
AGENCIES ARE UNABLE TO GET ACCESS TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
BECAUSE OF WHAT THE NORTH KOREANS SAY ARE SECURITY CONCERNS. BUT
HE DISMISSES REPORTS THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING ON THE STREETS AND
SAYS THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING ITS BEST TO COPE WITH THE SITUATION.
STILL, HE SAYS AID AGENCIES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SO-CALLED
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA -- OR D-P-R-K -- HAVE
FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES OVER WHO SHOULD RECEIVE THE FOOD. HE
SAYS THE NORTH KOREANS WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE SAME RATION
WHEREAS AID GROUPS WANT TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN GET SPECIAL
TREATMENT.
/// COUTTS ACT ///
WE ARE IN D-P-R-K TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT AT ALL
LEVELS -- COUNTY LEVEL, PROVINCIAL LEVEL-- TO HELP THEM
UNDERSTAND WHY WE TARGET CHILDREN AND NOT EVERYBODY.
IN THEIR SYSTEM, THEY WANT TO GIVE THE FOOD TO EVERYONE
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY OPERATE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. COUTTS SAYS 15 PER CENT OF THE COUNTRY'S CHILDREN SHOW SIGNS
OF SEVERE MALNUTRITION AND THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED FROM
FOOD DEFICIENCIES. HE SAYS THAT A LACK OF MEDICINE IS MAKING THE
SITUATION EVEN WORSE BECAUSE, WITHOUT MEDICINE, MALNOURISHED
CHILDREN WILL BE THE FIRST TO DIE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/KL
04-Dec-97 6:45 AM EST (1145 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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