WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States
announced Friday that it will send 500,000 tons of food aid to the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), beginning in June.
The United States and the DPRK have reached an
understanding "on the parameters of a program for the resumption of U.S. food
assistance for the North Korean people," the United States Agency for
International Development said in a statement.
"The two sides have agreed on terms for a substantial
improvement in monitoring and access in order to allow for confirmation of
receipt by the intended recipients," the statement said.
The White House said Tuesday that it was considering
providing food aid to the DPRK.
"We have had some useful discussions concerning the
parameters of a program for the resumption of U.S. food assistance for the North
Korean people. North Korea has been open in saying that it faces a major
shortfall in food supplies," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
A U.S. food aid delegation visited the DPRK last week
and held talks with the DPRK side on humanitarian food aid, and there have been
reports claiming that the United States will provide 500,000 tons of food aid to
the DPRK.
The DPRK was facing food shortages due to last year's floods. A delegation from the World Food Program reportedly will be in Pyongyang soon to discuss food aid to the DPRK.
PYONGYANG, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) move to hand over its key nuclear weapons documents to the United States reflected its will to restart the stalled six-party talks and was a sign of growing trust between Pyongyang and Washington, analysts said.
Sung Kim, director of the Korea Office at the U.S. State Department who returned to the United States Monday with the dossier, said Tuesday the nuclear documents "will provide an important first step in verifying" Pyongyang's declaration. Full story
PYONGYANG, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is ready to provide all technical conditions necessary for the delivery of U.S. food aid, the official news agency KCNA said Saturday.
The United States announced Friday that it will send 500,000 tons of food to the DPRK, beginning in June. Full story
