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December 22, 2011

U.S. Delays North Korea Food Aid Despite Warnings of Deaths 
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The Obama administration is facing urgent pleas to reverse a decision to
delay food aid to North Korea in aftermath of the death of Kim Jong-il.
The U.S. had reportedly been poised to deliver aid before Jong-il's
death was announced but now says it will need more time to assess the
new regime. Humanitarian groups warn many North Koreans are likely to
die of malnutrition in the coming months if the nation does not receive
an increased amount of aid. Lack of food has been a central issue for
North Koreans since the mid-1990s, when famine struck the region,
killing hundreds of thousands. Reports suggest the US could deliver as
much as 240,000 tons of aid.



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