The United Nations Development Program has decided to suspend its work in North Korea at the start of this month following Pyongyang?s failure to meet the conditions set by the agency?s board. The UNDP board wants an end to hard currency payments and recruitment of local staff through North Korean ministries and demands that the focus of programs be narrowed. “Those conditions were not met and therefore to be in compliance with the resolution of our executive board we had no choice but to suspend our operation,” UNDP spokesman David Morrison said. According to UNDP spokeswoman Christina LoNigro, the organization is open to reconsidering its stance “if these conditions were to be met.? (Sources: UN Development Program suspends work in North Korea/Reuters; UN Development Program Suspended N Korea Operations March 1/The Associated Press)
