PROPOSED VISIT TO NORTH KOREA AND THE REGION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 006166

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SECRETARY POWELL, D/S ARMITAGE, IO A/S HOLMES,
A/S PRM DEWEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2005
TAGS: PREF WFP
SUBJECT: PROPOSED VISIT TO NORTH KOREA AND THE REGION


CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR TONY P. HALL FOR REASONS 1.5 (
B) AND (D)


1. WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM MORRIS HAS INFORMED ME THAT UP
TO 4.5 MILLION HUNGRY WOMEN, CHILDREN AND ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE
BEING CUT OFF FROM WORLD FOOD PROGRAM ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF A
LACK OF CONTRIBUTIONS. THESE ARE VULNERABLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN RECEIVING FOOD AID ON A CONTINUAL BASIS AND WHO ARE NOW
BASICALLY HAVING TO FIND OTHER MEANS OF COPING IN THE MIDDLE
OF A HARSH KOREAN WINTER.


2. MOREOVER, MORRIS IS CLEARLY WORRIED THAT PLEDGING
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PAGE 02 ROME 06166 311117Z
SHORTFALLS COULD LEAD TO STEPS BACKWARD ON EVEN THE MODEST
GAINS THAT WFP HAS NEGOTIATED WITH THE NORTH KOREAN
GOVERNMENT SINCE 1995. IN THE WORST CASE, NORTH KOREA COULD
CLOSE THE WFP PROGRAM, RESULTING IN THE EXIT OF AROUND 50
INTERNATIONAL STAFF, PRESENTLY POSTED THROUGHOUT A LARGE PART
OF THE COUNTRY.


3. HAVING VISITED NORTH KOREA SIX TIMES DURING MY YEARS IN
CONGRESS, I AM KNOWN TO THE PYONGYANG LEADERSHIP AND HAVE
BUILT UP A DEGREE OF ACCESSIBILITY AND TRUST WITH THEM.


4. A HUMANITARIAN MISSION THERE IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE WOULD
PERMIT AN UPDATE ON RELIEF ASSISTANCE AND OTHER FRONTS AS
WELL. PRIOR TRIPS HAVE GENERATED A WELLSPRING OF WIDE RANGING
INFORMATION.


5. THIS REQUEST IS PROMPTED BY YOUR STATEMENT, MISTER
SECRETARY, ON 12/29 THAT: "WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO

SIPDIS
COMMUNICATE WITH THE NORTH KOREANS SO SOME SENSE CAN PREVAIL."


6. MY TRIP WOULD BE COMBINED WITH VISITS TO SOUTH KOREA AND
JAPAN IN ORDER TO STIMULATE ADDITIONAL DONOR SUPPORT FOR
WFP'S 2003 APPEAL. HALL
HALL

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2002ROME06166 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL