North Korea's humanitarian crisis has left about 10 million people – nearly half of the population – undernourished, according to UN officials, who have reported a drop in food production in 2017

UNITED NATIONS – The UN Security Council is poised to back a US proposal aimed at removing some of the hurdles that tough sanctions on North Korea have thrown up in the way of delivering humanitarian aid, according to documents obtained by Agence France-Presse (AFP). After Russia and China urged the council to ease sanctions, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United Nations should not do “one thing” until North Korea takes action to dismantle its nuclear and missile programmes. Asked about the new guidelines, a Dutch official, speaking as the chair of the sanctions committee, said: “We want to make clear that this is about easing the process, not about easing the sanctions.”

The Security Council last year adopted three rafts of sanctions targeting North Korea’s economy in response to Pyongyang’s sixth nuclear test and a series of ballistic missile launches. We’re hopeful that the guidelines will make carrying out our work easier.”

At a UN meeting last month, North Korean Deputy Ambassador Kim in Ryong complained that deliveries of medical equipment such as X-ray machines, anti-malaria insecticides and reproductive health kits had been held up for months.
North Korea warns that the heat wave affecting the Korean peninsula could damage important food crops and lead to shortages.