The executive director of the World Food Program, Josette Sheeran, has wrapped up a three-day visit to North Korea.

Sheeran, who arrived in Beijing on Thursday from Pyongyang, told reporters that children in the North are seriously malnourished and that the provision of nutritious foods for the children is coming up short due to a lack of sufficient funds.

Sheeran discussed the issue with top North Korean government officials, including parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam.

However, Sheeran did not elaborate on whether the meeting addressed ways to strengthen the monitoring of food distribution.

Sheeran’s visit comes five years after the last visit made to the communist state by a director of the World Food Program. Sheeran’s predecessor, James Morris, visited North Korea in December 2005.