45 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, his Department has taken with the appropriate international authorities in relation to the alleviation of hunger in North Korea. [14729/97]

48 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to visit North Korea to see the extent of the famine there at first hand. [14711/97]

54 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the humanitarian aid, if any, which is being provided by the Government for famine relief in North Korea. [14712/97]

57 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government intends to provide any additional aid or to urge international action on foot of the report of the Trócaire-led delegation to North Korea in view of the dangers of significant deaths through starvation during the coming winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14713/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 48, 54 and 57 together.

The Government has been monitoring closely the serious humanitarian crisis in North Korea where a situation of chronic food shortages has been exacerbated by severe flooding in the last two years followed by drought.

The Government has, in the past year, given a total of £615,000 in emergency assistance for North Korea. This assistance was channelled through the United Nations World Food Programme and through Trócaire and its sister agency Caritas Hong Kong. A further grant of £100,000 was approved this week to supply emergency food aid.

The international response up to now has been good. The two appeals issued so far by the World Food Programme have been almost fully funded. The European Commission has donated 56.7 million ECU, mainly through the World Food Programme. However, it is estimated that 70 per cent of the harvest due next month has been destroyed by drought and North Korea will face severe food shortages this winter. Ireland has suggested that the situation be further discussed at the next Food Aid Committee meeting in October.