North Korea Edges Toward Humanitarian Crisis

BEIJING – The Haeju pediatric hospital in rural North Korea is overflowing with malnourished children. Racked with hunger, many are too weak to stand. One lays unresponsive, his ribs protruding. Another is covered in purple splotches like round rubber stamps. In just a few moments of video, recorded by Jonathan Dumont, the television communications officer at the World Food Program (WFP), in September 2011, North Korea's catastrophic humanitarian situation is vividly on view. And if the UN’s predictions are correct, this year will be much like the last.