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DATE=10/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240756
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / FAMINE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SAYS 
THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN FAMINE-STRICKEN NORTH KOREA HAS 
IMPROVED.  AS VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM BEIJING, THE 
U-N-D-P OFFICIAL SAYS MORE FOCUS SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO 
AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT.
TEXT:  ALTHOUGH THIS WAS HIS FIRST VISIT TO NORTH KOREA, U-N-D-P 
ADMINISTRATOR JAMES GUSTAVE SPETH SAYS THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
THERE APPEARS TO BE BETTER.
        // SPETH ACT // 
 ON THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, I WOULD SAY THAT AS COMPARED WITH
TWO YEARS AGO, THE SITUATION IS MUCH IMPROVED.  THE WIDESPREAD 
FAMINE THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY HAS BEEN AVERTED DUE TO THE 
CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE AND THE COOPERATION OF THE 
D-P-R-K AUTHORITIES IN THIS INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE.
            // END ACT //
MR. SPETH SAYS ONE PROBLEM THAT STILL REMAINS IS WIDESPREAD 
UNDERNOURISHMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER CHILDREN.  HE ADDS THAT 
CROP PRODUCTION FOR THIS YEAR IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT THREE 
MILLION METRIC TONS -- WHICH HE SAYS IS ONLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE 
BASIC NEED.
BUT HE SAYS THE U-N-D-P IS NOT A RELIEF AGENCY AND IS MORE 
CONCERNED WITH RECONSTRUCTION AND REBUILDING IN NORTH KOREA.
        // SPETH ACT //
  MY PRINCIPLE CONCERN, HOWEVER, WAS NOT THE HUMANITARIAN 
PROGRAM, BUT THE ISSUE OF THE AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY IN THE 
COUNTRY.
          // END ACT //
MR. SPETH SAYS HUMANITARIAN AID CANNOT BE SUSTAINED WITHOUT 
AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY.
         // SPETH ACT // 
 THE SPENDING ON FOOD AID AND HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS IS ROUGHLY 
400- MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.  WE ESTIMATE FOR LESS THAN A THIRD 
OF THAT, WE CAN PROVIDE THE EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR 
AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY IN THE COUNTRY. 
           // END ACT //
MR. SPETH SAYS A U-N-D-P AGRICULTURAL RECOVERY PROGRAM WOULD 
REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE THAN 100 MILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR FOR 
THREE YEARS.
HE SAYS PART OF THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT TO BUY FERTILIZER AND 
OTHER AGRICULTURAL INPUTS.  OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM 
INCLUDE FLOOD DAMAGE RECOVERY, IRRIGATION REHABILITATION, 
RE-FORESTATION EFFORTS AND BIOLOGICALLY RESPONSIBLE PEST CONTROL 
METHODS. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC
27-Oct-98 3:52 AM EST (0852 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.