The United Nations World Food Program is launching an emergency operation to address the urgent needs of 3.5 million people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The operation will cost more than 200 million US dollars.

A bitter winter, crop loss and a lack of resources to secure cereal supplies from outside the country have left the DPRK without enough food for the population.

Claudia Von Roehl, WFP's Director to DPRK, said, "As of May in the public distribution system, which is the major source for cereals for the people of DPRK, for about 2/3 of all the people of DPRK. They have reduced the cereal distribution to only 190 grams."

Food is needed immediately and the WFP is looking to neighboring countries to help boost the supply. The operation will be rolled out with a number of rigorous monitoring conditions set down by the DPRK government. WFP international staff will conduct more than 200 site visits in the country every month.

Claudia Von Roehl said, "We have access 24 hour notice to all the communities and entire counties including to do family visits. You know not many people are allowed to go into the private houses of the families. Also we have agreed with the government that we are allowed to visit the markets not just here in the capital but also in the provinces and in the counties, we will be allowed to do the farmers visits."

Director Roehl says the DPRK authorities have supported the project.

Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund has launched a 20- million U.S. dollar appeal to prevent the development of acute malnutrition in the DPRK.

According to the assessment conducted by WFP, UNICEF and FAO, about 6 million people in the DPRK are in danger of going hungry.