DATE=12/6/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NORTH KOREA FAMINE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256876
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:    A United Nations official stationed in North 
Korea says the famine-stricken country is on the way 
to a fragile recovery but still needs international 
assistance.  V-O-A correspondent Roger Wilkison  
reports the official says the worst of the crisis 
appears to be over, but the situation of children who 
suffered from malnutrition during years of famine is 
irreversible.

TEXT:  Dilawar Ali Khan has just completed his first 
year in Pyongyang as the representative of UNICEF, the 
United Nations Children's Fund.  He says he has seen a 
slight economic recovery in that year, noting that 
crop production has increased and that industry is 
reviving.  He says there are more cars and bicycles on 
the streets of Pyongyang and other cities, and that 
some areas are receiving electricity for up to three 
or four hours.

But Mr. Khan says North Korea's economy is still 
suffering because of its failure to carry out reforms 
and open up to the outside world.  Although he says 
there are fewer signs of malnutrition among the 
general populace than there were a year and a half 
ago, women and children are still vulnerable.

That, he says, is why North Korea still needs foreign 
assistance, even though interest in helping the 
reclusive country among donors seems to be flagging.  
Mr. Khan says a continuation of the slight 
improvements  he has noted over the past year depends 
entirely on foreign aid.

            /// FIRST KHAN ACTUALITY ///

      There is a fear that, if external assistance in 
      terms of food, health and nutrition and support 
      for the rehabilitation of the social 
      infrastructure by the humanitarian organizations 
      is withdrawn, then we can see big risk reversals 
      in the future.

            /// END ACTUALITY ///

Last year, UNICEF conducted a survey that found that 
16-percent of North Korea's children suffered from 
wasting and another 62-percent were malnourished.  Mr. 
Khan says the percentage of those who are wasting away 
has since declined, but that there has been little 
change in the number of those whose growth has been 
stunted by malnutrition.

            /// SECOND KHAN ACTUALITY ///

      I think they are damaged for life.  It is not 
      something that can be corrected or reversed.16, 
      15, 14-year old girls and boys, they look seven 
      or eight.  There's nothing that can reverse that 
      damage.

            /// END ACTUALITY ///

Mr. Khan says he has found a more receptive attitude 
among North Korean officials with whom his agency 
deals than was the case in the past.   He says 
officials who once began every meeting with five 
minutes of ritual praise for North Korea's leaders now 
get straight down to business.  But he says the North 
Korean government appears to be unwilling to carry out 
the reforms donors and potential foreign investors 
want before they commit themselves to putting money 
into the country.

            /// THIRD KHAN ACTUALITY ///

      They are interested in change, but perhaps on 
      their own terms.  The pace of change that they 
      want is also to be determined by them, whereas 
      for a big improvement, you need a big change.  I 
      don't think there is any indication they are 
      ready for the big change.

            /// END ACTUALITY ///

UNICEF operates in six of North Korea's 10 provinces, 
supplying medicine, vaccines, and training.    
(Signed)

NEB/rw/gm



06-Dec-1999 07:03 AM EDT (06-Dec-1999 1203 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.