TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-219762
TITLE=NORTH KOREA / FOOD (L/S)
BYLINE=PEGGY POLK
DATELINE=ROME
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
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INTRO: THE U-N FOOD AGENCIES
WARNED FRIDAY NORTH KOREA FACES
CONTINUED, SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGES. AS PEGGY POLK REPORTS FROM
ROME, THE AGENCIES ARE EXPRESSING ALARM OVER THE DESTRUCTION TO
CROPS CAUSED BY BOTH DROUGHT AND TYPHOON "WINNIE".
TEXT: A MISSION OF EXPERTS
FROM THE U-N FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION AND WORLD FOOD PROGRAM VISITED NORTH KOREA LATE LAST
MONTH. WHAT THEY FOUND CAUSED THEM -- IN THE WORDS OF THEIR
REPORT -- VERY SERIOUS ALARM.
THE REPORT SAYS FOLLOWING TWO-YEARS
OF DEVASTATING FLOODS,
DROUGHT AND TYPHOON WINNIE HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC EFFECT ON
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.
//OPT// THE ROME-BASED AGENCIES
NOW ESTIMATE NORTH KOREA WILL
LOSE ONE-POINT-TWO-FIVE-MILLION TONS OF MAIZE, EVEN IF THERE IS
ADEQUATE RAINFALL THIS MONTH, AND FROM 342-THOUSAND TO
630-THOUSAND-TONS OF RICE, DEPENDING ON RAINFALL. //END OPT//
THE AGENCIES SAID BECAUSE OF ITS CHRONIC
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND A
LACK OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE, NORTH KOREA CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY
ENOUGH FOOD, WHICH MEANS IT WILL HAVE TO DEPEND ALL THE MORE ON
HELP FROM ABROAD.
//OPT// THE REPORT USED UN-USUALLY
BLUNT LANGUAGE. IT SAID
EMERGENCY FOOD AID, REHABILITATION OF CROPLANDS AND SUPPLIES OF
SEED AND FERTILIZER ARE VITAL. IT SAID -- WITHOUT THESE
INTERVENTIONS THE HUMAN CONSEQUENCES ARE LIKELY TO BE DIRE.
//END OPT//
THE MISSION WILL RETURN TO NORTH KOREA
NEXT MONTH TO ASSESS THE
HARVEST AND DETERMINE EXACTLY HOW MUCH EMERGENCY AID THE COUNTRY
WILL NEED.
// REST OPT // LOOKING TO THE
FUTURE, THE REPORT SAID WHETHER
NORTH KOREA WILL BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THIS EMERGENCY AND FEED
ITSELF WILL DEPEND AS MUCH ON ITS ECONOMY, AS ON EFFORTS TO
INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PP/PCF/RAE
12-Sep-97 4:56 AM EDT (0856 UTC)
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