The U.S. will halt its provision of food aid to North Korea through the U.N.’s World Food Program (WFP) until the communist country fully implements all aspects of a related agreement proposed to the North in May.
Washington will, however, continue to provide food aid to Pyongyang through nongovernmental organizations.
According to Radio Free Asia, a U.S. delegation and North Korea discussed granting North Korean visas to Korean-speaking WFP workers in a recent visit to Pyongyang. But the two sides failed to reach an agreement, leading to a U.S. decision to have NGOs, rather than the WFP, distribute the sixth shipment of aid.
The U.S. government-funded broadcaster said the May food aid agreement includes stricter conditions overseeing the distribution of food.
Pyongyang agreed to allow Korean-speaking aid workers to be at distribution sites and visit food storage facilities, as long as the state receives at least a one-day notice.