North Korea Opens Doors to Aid Workers

From Reuters:

North Korea's surprise decision to ease restrictions on international aid operations as it battles chronic hunger is a major breakthrough which bodes well for future international cooperation, aid workers say.

But aid groups have warned the secretive regime that they will halt a new aid programme if it reneges on promises to let them check the distribution of food.

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"It has been made very clear to North Korea that if it's discovered that food is going where it's not supposed to be going this programme ... will not continue," said Joy Portella, spokeswoman for Mercy Corps, one of the agencies.

...Mercy Corps [is] among a very small handful of aid groups working in the country. Most don't operate there because of the heavy restrictions imposed by Pyongyang.

The resumption of U.S. food aid comes just days after North Korea blew up a plutonium-producing nuclear plant and provided details of its nuclear programmes. Washington has strongly denied any link.

"There have been discussions about the aid for months," Portella said. "It's not the kind of agreement that you could slap together in a few weeks. These discussions were going on well before the North Koreans handed over any nuclear disclosure materials."

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Portella said the authorities had rushed through visas for aid staff and allowed foreign experts to carry out an assessment of food needs in June, even letting aid workers talk to people in their homes.

"All this points to the fact that they want to make this work." Portella added. "So far we are encouraged."