The Korea Development Institute (KDI) reports that American aid to North Korea has dropped dramatically in the last two years, following the eruption of the second North Korean nuclear crisis.

The KDI, citing statistics from the U.S. Congressional Investigation Committee, said Washington had given an average of 110 million dollars per year in aid since 1995. But after the second nuclear crisis began in 2002, it said, U.S. aid to Pyongyang plunged to 27 million dollars in 2003 and tallied only 52 million dollars in 2004.

The KDI also pointed out that U.S. energy aid to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization fell sharply in 2003 and stopped altogether last year.