Nearly 1 out of 3 North Korean children in a northern province are undernourished, a U.S.-based media report said Tuesday, citing findings by the World Food Program.

In its report on North Korea assistance, Voice of America quoted the United Nations organization as saying that some 32 percent of North Korean kids at child care centers in the North's Ryanggang Province are malnourished and undersized, showing the highest rate among eight North Korean provinces.

The average percentage of malnutrition for North Korean children below the age of five years is 25.4 percent, according to the WFP.

Ryanggang's high number is followed by South Hamgyong with 27.1 percent, North Pyongan with 26.3 percent, North Hwanghae at 25.7 percent and North Hamgyong standing at 25.5 percent.

Undernourishment in Kangwon Province on the east coast came to 24.4 percent, with South Hwanghae at 22.4 percent and South Pyongan at 19.8 percent.

The WFP conducted the nutrition survey last year for kids between the ages of six months and five years in 85 cities and counties, excluding the northern province of Jagang.

Moreover, Ryanggang Province's rate of kids who are underweight hit 12.2 percent, the highest among all areas checked, while South Pyongan's rate recorded the lowest at 7.5 percent. The average underweight rate for North Korean children stood at 10.2 percent, the report said.

North Korean children's intake of protein and fat also remain at 70 to 85 percent of international standards, the report pointed out.

The WFP will conduct a nutritional assistance project for 1.7 million North Korean people for 2 1/2 years starting next month, for which some $126 million in support is required. (Yonhap)