North Korean food shortage to continue

In their reports prepared by field survey missions and released Thursday, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program estimated that North Korea would suffer a food shortage of 1,265,000 tons next year as a result of droughts and typhoons.

According to the reports, the North's cereal production will be 2,920,000 tons this year, 1,165,000 tons short of the minimum grain requirement of 4,785,000 tons next year.

The reports, based on field surveys conducted by their missions between Oct. 14 and Oct. 21, appealed for massive food aid to North Korea from outside sources, including international organizations.

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com