Associated Press: North Korea wants UN staff cut, but U.N. says they’re vital

“North Korea wants the number of U.N. international staff in the country reduced by the end of the year over what it claims is the politicization of aid by parties hostile to its government, but the United Nations says the mission’s current ‘light footprint’ is vital…” (Lederer, 9/5).

 

Reuters: U.N. trying to convince North Korea not to cut aid staff

“…U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the United Nations was ‘in dialogue with the government at this point on the issue of cutting international aid staff in DPRK.’ … ‘Current U.N. operations already have a light footprint on the ground and continued capacity at current levels is vital for ensuring continued U.N. support for critical food security, water, nutrition programming as well as mobilizing resources,’ Dujarric told reporters…” (Nichols, 9/5).