DATE=3/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247000
TITLE=U-S/NORTH KOREA (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL PROVIDE 
ADDITIONAL FOOD AID TO HELP NORTH KOREA DEAL WITH WHAT IS 
DESCRIBED AS WIDESPREAD STARVATION.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, 
V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT WILL DONATE AN ADDITIONAL 
100-THOUSAND METRIC TONS OF CORN AND CORN-SOY BLEND TO NORTH 
KOREA.

THE AID WILL GO TO THE U-N WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, WHICH IS REPORTING
A 200-THOUSAND-TON SHORTFALL IN DONATIONS FOR NORTH KOREA. 

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS NORTH KOREA HAS BEEN 
SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY SHORTAGES, AND THE UNITED STATES IS HOPING 
OTHER NATIONS WILL MAKE UP THE REST OF THE AID SHORTFALL.  

                        /// FOLEY ACT ///

 CHRONIC FOOD PRODUCTION SHORTFALLS HAVE RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD 
STARVATION AND MALNUTRITION IN THE D-P-R-K [NORTH KOREA].  BASED 
ON ITS RECENT NUTRITIONAL SURVEY AND CROP ASSESSMENTS, THE U-N 
HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE FOOD SITUATION REMAINS DIRE.

                         /// END ACT ///

A THREE-YEAR FAMINE IN NORTH KOREA IS BELIEVED TO HAVE KILLED 
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, BUT ACCURATE ESTIMATES OF THE PROBLEM HAVE 
BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN, BECAUSE OF THE SECRETIVE NATURE OF 
NORTH KOREA'S GOVERNMENT.  

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE FOOD AID WILL BE DIRECTED TO THOSE WHO NEED
IT THE MOST, INCLUDING CHILDREN, PREGNANT MOTHERS, THE SICK AND 
THE ELDERLY. 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE U-S DONATION COMES JUST FIVE DAYS AFTER NORTH
KOREA AGREED TO ALLOW U-S INSPECTORS TO VISIT A HUGE UNDERGROUND 
SITE SUSPECTED OF BEING A NUCLEAR FACILITY. 

U-S OFFICIALS DENY THERE IS ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FOOD-AID 
DONATION AND THE AGREEMENT ON THE INSPECTION OF THE NORTH KOREAN 
UNDERGROUND SITE. 

THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A MAJOR DONOR TO THE WORLD FOOD 
PROGRAM.  LAST YEAR THE UNITED STATES PLEDGED 500-THOUSAND TONS 
OF FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA, WHICH HAS BEEN TRYING TO COPE WITH 
CHRONIC FOOD SHORTAGES.   (SIGNED)

KBK/PW/WTW

22-Mar-99 5:27 PM EST (2227 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.