UN food agency chief plans to visit North Korea amid drought

FILE: Governor David Beasley in Annapolis (Photo By Marylandstater – Own work, CC0)

The head of the U.N. World Food Program says he plans to visit North Korea, which is facing drought and “a lot of people starving.”

David Beasley told The Associated Press on Monday that “we want to make the case very clearly that innocent children should not starve to death.”

He said: “I think the North Korean government understands, as I have made it clear, that Western donors don’t feel comfortable giving, because money that they think should be helping children is being used to build a nuclear program.”

According to WFP, the U.N. is seeking $52 million for North Korea in 2017, but has received just $15 million. Without an urgent contribution of $10 million, WFP says it may have to suspend assistance in some areas.