In the more temperate provinces in the south, WFP observed some field activities, mainly relating to land development. In South Hwangae, workers were involved in land restructuring for paddy. This has been an ongoing priority to level and standardise paddy, in order to increase production and facilitate mechanisation. During household visits, WFP observed little fresh food available. These stocks include edible grasses and leaves collected from the mountains, or seaweed along the coastal areas.
Many households have some stocks of leafy tops of radishes and cabbage that have been dried.
In mid-January, the temperatures fell to the lowest levels recorded in the last 50 years. This poses serious problems for population weakened by years of food shortages, with inadequate heating and difficult access to fuel wood. At the same time, the poor harvest of 2000 means that food provision through the Public Distribution System will cease by the end of January in most parts of the country, according to Government reports. After 11 years of development work in Africa, I arrived in North Korea in early 1999 as the new country representative for Children's Aid Direct, one of the first NGOs to enter the country and currently the only British NGO still operating there. As the head of a British NGO, I was perceived by the Koreans as representing my country.