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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
March 22, 1999

North Korea--World Food Program Appeal

In response to the UN World Food Program's (WFP) December 1998 appeal for humanitarian food aid for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.), the U.S. Government has decided to provide additional humanitarian assistance in the amount of 100,000 metric tons of food aid to help fill the remaining 209,000 ton shortfall in donations.

Chronic food production shortfalls have resulted in widespread starvation and malnutrition in the D.P.R.K. Based on its recent nutritional survey and crop assessments, the UN has concluded that the food situation remains dire.

This U.S. Government assistance, sourced from PL 480 Title II Emergency Food Aid and 416 (b) surplus agricultural commodities, will be provided to the WFP for distribution to the D.P.R.K. Commodities for this contribution will include corn-soy blend and corn.

As in the past, U.S. assistance will be targeted at North Korean civilians who are most vulnerable to the effects of malnutrition caused by the food crisis, including children in nurseries, schools, and orphanages, pregnant/nursing women, handicapped people, and hospital patients.

To monitor the contributions in order to assure that they are used for their intended purpose, the WFP continues to maintain a staff of 46 food monitors in six offices throughout North Korea. The U.S. will continue working with the WFP and U.S. private voluntary organizations (PVOs) to further enhance the effectiveness of food aid distribution in the D.P.R.K.

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