"The well-being of millions of people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) still depends on external assistance, a United Nations humanitarian official said [Friday], warning that without aid, their health and food security would be seriously compromised," the U.N. News Centre reports. Desiree Jongsma, the U.N. resident coordinator in North Korea, "said that while timely imports of food and provisions of agricultural inputs have contributed to avoiding a food crisis this year, the majority of the population -- some 16 million people -- remain chronically food insecure," the news service writes, adding, "Of those 16 million, 2.8 million need regular nutrition assistance" (3/15).