U.N. agency sees severe food shortage in North Korea

[Coventina]

Source: Washington Post

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea is expected to suffer a serious grain shortage this year, well short of what it needs, a U.N. official who recently returned from the impoverished state said on Wednesday.

"We do estimate that the DPRK (North Korea) may have to import a bit over 1 million tonnes to cover the needs," said Daniele Donati, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation's emergency operations chief, who went there on an inspection tour state last week.

The FAO estimates that destitute North Korea needs about 5.1 million tonnes of grain a year for food, animal feed and seed.

The shortfall is about the same as last year's in a country where the United Nations says millions do not have enough to eat.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/09/AR2009120900608.html

[WriteDown]

1. Hope China is feeling generous. nt

[beyond cynical]

2. Sad...I wish someone would pop the pimple that is running this country.

[Robbien]

3. Too many bad things happening at once, and Koreans may not be able to cope

With swine flu being reported to reach North Korea. Having the money devalued to where 100 won is now worth only one won thus strangling the private markets. The only place left to get food would be the government, and they are fresh out.

Appears something is going to give.