New food crisis in North Korea

The United Nations has said North Korea is facing renewed food shortages because of a lack of funding from international donors.

The head of the World Food Programme, James Morris, said the organisation has already cut half its assistance to more than six million North Koreans -- one third of the population -- and could be forced to reduce it even further.

Mr Morris -- who has visited North Korea this week -- said there is severe malnutrition there and children are particularly at risk.

He warned the crisis would worsen during winter if food was not sent immediately.

Earlier, the World Food Programme said millions of people in two southern African countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe, were likely to suffer from food shortages for another year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service