UNITED NATIONS—The United Nations is urgently appealing for $98
million to meet critical humanitarian needs in North Korea for
the rest of 2013.   "Without sustained humanitarian support, the
gains made the past 10 years in improving food security and the
overall health and nutrition of the most vulnerable ... could be
quickly reversed," U.N. Resident Coordinator in North Korea
Ghulam Isaczai said in a statement Thursday.  Isaczai said while
the overall humanitarian situation has improved slightly over
the last 12 months, around 2.4 million very vulnerable people
need regular food assistance, and external assistance is vital.
"The lifesaving operations of the United Nations in the country
remain drastically underfunded," Nesirky said. "The lives of
many people are at stake, including children who are vulnerable
to lasting suffering if they do not receive aid."  Earlier this
month, South Korea approved $6 million in government aid for
vaccines, medical care and food for North Korean children, the
first such