US embassy cable - 02ROME6166

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 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
 2002ROME06166 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL