Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=10/30/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-309217

TITLE=NOKOR FOOD (S & L)

BYLINE=KATHERINE MARIA

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

INTRO: United Nations agencies are warning that North Korea could face another food shortage unless international food donations increase. The reclusive communist state last faced a serious famine in 1995. Reporting from V-O-A's Asia News Center in Hong Kong, Katherine Maria looks at the likely outcome of such a shortage.

TEXT: A new U-N report prepared by the World Food Program and the Food and Agricultural Organization warns that North Korea - despite better harvests - still needs substantial aid through 2004.

Rick Corsino, the W-F-P director for North Korea, says donations are falling short and his agency may have to cut back programs within days.

Speaking in Beijing Thursday, Mr. Corsino estimated 150-thousand tons of food is needed or several million people could be at risk of starvation in just months.

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The crisis is critical. We are within a matter of days of being forced to reduce our distribution to the elderly.

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The U-N agency currently feeds about six and a half million of the 23 million people in North Korea.

The last major food shortage in 1995 - caused by natural disasters and mismanagement- resulted in famine. Since then, donors have provided more than eight million tons of food.

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Mr. Corsino asked donor countries to give money and not food to expedite the process of buying supplies.

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When people give us food it takes a long period of time to get there. If we have cash we're able to buy locally and regionally and we can condense the delivery distribution period of time.

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He says contributions from the United States have dropped in recent years - but it remains among the largest donors of food aid to North Korea - along with China and South Korea.

NEB/HK/KM/JO/KBK