South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung said on Sunday that Stalinist North Korea, hit by recent droughts and typhoons, could face even more serious food shortages next year. ''North Korea suffered damage caused by the worst droughts in 100 years as well as typhoons this year. The food situation in North Korea could worsen further next year and become a major problem,'' Kim was quoted as telling Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. Kim made the remarks during a breakfast meeting with the Japanese prime minister in this hot springs resort southwest of Tokyo, a Japanese official said.
Pyongyang's official Korean central news agency said on Friday typhoons and rain had destroyed 29,000 houses, damaged nearly 100,000 more and killed many people.
Bureau Report