DATE=4/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247550
TITLE=NORTH KOREA/FAMINE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS IS RENEWING ITS APPEAL TO THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR FOOD AID TO BELEAGUERED NORTH KOREA
-- SAYING THE FOOD SITUATION THERE IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
MEANTIME, AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, THE U-N WORLD FOOD
PROGRAM SAYS ITS ACCESS TO AREAS INSIDE NORTH KOREA IS IMPROVING,
BUT STILL FAR FROM COMPLETE.
TEXT: DESPITE YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE, NORTH KOREA IS
STILL SUFFERING FROM SEVERE FOOD SHORTAGES.
DAVID MORTON, THE U-N HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR AND WORLD FOOD
PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE IN NORTH KOREA, SAYS THERE IS ONLY ENOUGH
FOOD IN THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO LAST THROUGH THE FIRST
PART OF THIS MONTH.
// MORTON ACT //
BY EARLY APRIL, THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE HARVEST WILL BE
COMPLETED, AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE HARVEST LEFT FOR
DISTRIBUTION TO PEOPLE UNTIL THE NEXT HARVEST COMES MUCH LATER
THIS YEAR. SO, IN MAY AND JUNE, PEOPLE IN NORTH KOREA WILL HAVE
TO SURVIVE ON WHATEVER COPING MECHANISMS THEY HAVE.
// END ACT //
DESPITE THE INCREASINGLY DESPERATE SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA, MR.
MORTON SAYS INTERNATIONAL RELIEF WORKERS CANNOT TRAVEL AROUND THE
COUNTRY FREELY, NOR CAN THEY DISCUSS MATTERS PRIVATELY.
// MORTON ACT //
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE UNMONITORED CONVERSATIONS.
// END ACT //
HE ADDS THAT 25-PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY IS OFF LIMITS FOR NATIONAL
SECURITY REASONS.
// MORTON ACT //
THE CONDITIONS FOR MONITORING IN THE D-P-R-K HAVE IMPROVED,
BUT THEY'RE NOT SATISFACTORY AND WE'RE PRESSING FOR FURTHER
IMPROVEMENTS.
// END ACT //
THE U-N OFFICIAL SAYS INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA SO
FAR HAS LARGELY BEEN GIVEN TO CHILDREN AND MOTHERS. HE SAYS
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY OF THIS FOOD HAS BEEN DIVERTED.
// MORTON ACT //
WE DON'T THINK THE AID GOES TO THE MILITARY OR TO THE OFFICIALS
BECAUSE THE AID COMES IN THE FORM OF MAIZE OR WHEAT, WHICH IS NOT
THE PREFERRED FOOD. THE PREFERRED FOOD IN KOREA IS RICE, AND THE
RICE COMES FROM THE HARVEST, AND THEY HAVE ENOUGH FROM THE
HARVEST TO FEED THEIR PRIORITY GROUPS.
// END ACT //
MR. MORTON SAYS THE W-F-P HAS SET UP A FOOD-FOR-WORK PROGRAM TO
HELP ADULTS BECAUSE AN INCREASING NUMBER OF OUT-OF-WORK NORTH
KOREANS NO LONGER GET FOOD FROM THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
ASKED BY REPORTERS WHETHER CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL AID TO NORTH
KOREA IS PROPPING UP A REPRESSIVE STALINIST GOVERNMENT, MR.
MORTON WOULD ONLY SAY THAT EACH COUNTRY CAN MAKE UP ITS OWN MIND
ABOUT PROVIDING DONATIONS.
// MORTON ACT //
ON THE HUMANITARIAN SIDE, I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY TO IDENTIFY TO
THE WORLD WHAT WE SEE AS THE PROBLEMS AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS TO
THOSE PROBLEMS. WE CAN'T CONDEMN A CHILD TO DEATH JUST BECAUSE
HE OR SHE WAS BORN IN NORTH KOREA.
// END ACT //
MR. MORTON CONCLUDED BY SAYING HUMANITARIAN AID IS HELPING KEEP A
GENERATION OF NORTH KOREAN CHILDREN FROM STARVATION, BUT IS NOT
SOLVING THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS. HE SAYS NORTH KOREA IS MOSTLY AN
INDUSTRIAL COUNTRY, AND THAT THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION WILL REQUIRE
SOME SORT OF ECONOMIC REVIVAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/FC/PLM
02-Apr-99 5:53 AM EST (1053 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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