Korea: UN sees urgent need for N Korean food aid

01-Apr-2011 Intellasia | AP | 7:01 AM

South Korea says UN officials believe North Korea needs massive international food aid, but Seoul has no immediate plans to resume food shipments.

The Unification Ministry says visiting World Food Programme officials briefed South Korea on Wednesday about their recent assessment of the North’s food situation. The UN says 475,000 tonnes (430,000 metric tonnes) of food is necessary for 6.1 million vulnerable people.

Ministry officials say the WFP didn’t request South Korea resume either aid donations to the world body or direct food shipments to the North.

South Korea links aid resumption to progress in ties with North Korea. It says better ties largely depend on Pyongyang taking responsibility for past attacks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110330/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_food_aid