Seoul `watching` food shortage in the North

South Korea`s Unification Ministry said yesterday it was "closely watching" North Korea`s food shortage situation and that it was trying to deliver 10,000 tons of corn aid by June.

"North Korea`s food production falls short of demand and there are problems of disproportionate food distribution among different classes or regions," ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said in a press briefing.

"The government is aware that the shortage of food can get worse during the spring season and is trying to deliver the corn aid within the first half of this year."

People were dying of starvation in some parts of North Korea, according to members of private organizations who recently visited the North, but situations may be different in other regions, Lee said.



Seoul estimates the North`s food production last year at around 4.11 million tons and predicts that without aid from the outside, it would fall short of demand by up to 1.1 million tons.

The South Korean Red Cross yesterday delivered 156 million won worth of powdered milk for infants to the North.

"Twenty tons of powdered milk was carried by two trucks across the Military Demarcation Line this morning," Lee aid.

The Red Cross had offered last October to provide 10,000 tons of corn along with powdered milk and medicine to the North. Antibiotics and other basic medical supplies worth 1.4 billion won were delivered to the North late last month.

The Red Cross plans to send the corn as soon as it completes the purchase from China.

(sophie@heraldm.com)



By Kim So-hyun