Food aid distribution to North Korea is becoming increasingly transparent with authorities of the Stalinist country easing regulations on international monitors. Former U.S. special envoy to North Korea Jack Pritchard said in a recent interview with Radio Free Asia that North Korea's relations with the World Food Program have improved as the North allowed the U.N. agency to increase its inspection visits to food distribution centers over the past six months. Pritchard warned that a forced collapse of the North Korean regime would result in a disaster and said the U.S. State Department must continue to support the Stalinist country, independently from political issues.