WFP approves new aid for North Korea

(CBC) - The United Nations World Food Program has approved a new proposal to help North Korea, just months after its operations were scaled back at the request of that country's government.

The new aid will target pregnant women and children.

WFP 's operations in North Korea ended last year after the government there said it no longer needed direct food aid. Instead, it said it wanted donors to focus on development.

In response to a request from North Korea, the WFP has approved a two-year program that would provide vitamin-enriched food to pregnant women and children.

However, the agency's board said it can only implement the plan if North Korea relaxes new restrictions on staff numbers and their movement in the country.

WFP will now hold talks with North Korea in a bid to reach agreement on the plan. It will also require the support of donor countries for it to be implemented.

In a statement on its website, the WFP said the two-year program is "just the first step in the process of resuming food aid to DPRK Democratic People's Republic of Korea."