KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF * (23 June)

A recent FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission found that the food supply situation has deteriorated rapidly, with stocks near depletion.

As a result, the occurrence of dietary deficiencies and disease have increased and in some observed cases the state of malnutrition has become chronic and life threatening. The emergence of commonly recognized pre-famine indicators suggest that starvation will ensue in segments of the population before the next harvest, unless remedial action is taken urgently. A few households visited by the mission reported deaths due to starvation, whilst a number of children and adults observed had symptoms of wasting and oedema due to protein deficiency and possibly Kwashiorkor.

Taking into account 430 000 tons of cereals it was estimated the country could import commercially, the volume of food aid delivered and in the pipeline and reductions in the use of grain for animal feed and industrial uses, the last FAO/WFP mission estimated that the country would have a cereal deficit of some 1.2 million tons for the current marketing year (November/October), with which it needed assistance to meet minimum food needs. Since the mission in May, however, there has been an increase in pledges of food assistance to the country. Although some of the additional pledges still need to be confirmed, it is now estimated that the country will receive around 560 000 tons in multilateral/bilateral food aid this marketing year, leaving it with an uncovered deficit of around 940 000 tons.

More international food assistance is still urgently needed to avoid further human suffering. However, although such assistance is vital in the short run, there is also urgent need for the country to address the food problem in the medium to long term and consider implementing appropriate and sustainable agricultural and economic strategies.

Early prospects for 1997 crops are favourable, reflecting early winter thaw in March and good rains since the beginning of May. Food production in 1997, will, nonetheless, continue to be seriously constrained by the lack of essential agricultural inputs. Even under an optimistic scenario, therefore, the production of maize and rice is provisionally forecast at about four million tons, which will be substantially below requirements for the next marketing year.