About 20 percent of North Korean children are stunted because of malnutrition, and half the children in rural areas are drinking unsafe water, a senior U.N. official visiting the country said.
Much progress has been made compared with 20 years ago, but "significant humanitarian challenges" remain, Mark Lowcock, the undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, said Wednesday at a news conference in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The U.N. issued a transcript of his remarks.
The United Nations is trying to raise $111 million to meet health, water and sanitation and food security needs for about 6 million people in North Korea. Only 10 percent has been raised so far, Lowrock said, through donations from the Swedish, Swiss and Canadian governments.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged donors on Thursday to fund the U.N. appeal "to try to address directly the humanitarian aspects that exist in North Korea."
In this Wednesday, July 11, 2018, photo by the North Korean government, Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, third from left, listens to North Korean Health Minister Jang Jun Sang, third from left, during a meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea. The senior U.N. official visiting North Korea is highlighting malnutrition, drinking water and a shortage of medicines as problems facing the country. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
The proportion of children affected by stunting, a failure to develop physically and cognitively, has fallen to 20 percent from 28 percent in 2011, but that "is still a high number," Lowrock said.
"Too much of the water is contaminated, which is a cause of disease and threatens the development of too many children," he said, according to the transcript.
Besides malnutrition and water, Lowrock also highlighted a shortage of drugs and medical supplies and equipment. One hospital he visited this week had only enough drugs for 40 of its 140 tuberculosis patients, creating dilemmas for doctors who have to figure out what to do, he said.
Lowrock said that Kim Yong Nam, a senior official, briefed him on the government's commitment to denuclearization and the new focus on economic development as a top priority.
CHICAGO (AP) — Max Kepler and José Miranda hit run-scoring singles to put Minnesota ahead in the seventh, and the Twins rallied late for their 10th straight win, 10-5 over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Miranda added his third hit for another RBI in a four-run ninth that put it away for the Twins, whose winning streak is their longest since June 2008 and the longest in the major leagues this season. Willi Castro added an RBI single to cap a three-hit day that included a double and triple.
“It's hard not to feel good,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “But we really kept competing as the game went on, another one of the games that didn't come easy.
“It wasn't the most glorious maybe to watch ... but just watching the team, just kind of grind though the middle and later parts of the game with good at-bats, making plays, guys coming in and pitching, throwing strikes.”
Alex Kirilloff hit a solo shot off Chicago starter Chris Flexen. Ryan Jeffers knocked in two runs with a double for Minnesota, which has beaten Chicago in eight straight dating to last season.
The Twins trailed until they tied it a 4 in the sixth inning, scoring two unearned runs with two outs when Castro’s routine grounder ticked off the glove of shortstop Paul DeJong and rolled between his legs for an error.
“The ball was spinning like crazy and (baserunner Trevor) Larnach at second base did a good job of blocking my view,” DeJong said. “The ball just kind of took off sideways on me and I whiffed, and unfortunately it cost us two runs.”
Tommy Pham hit his first homer with the White Sox and added an RBI double. He’s batting .375 with Chicago in six games since joining them last Friday.
Kory Lee also went deep, and Robbie Grossman doubled twice and drove in a run for the White Sox, worst in the majors at 6-25. Chicago has dropped three straight after sweeping a three-game series from Tampa Bay last weekend.
Minnesota's Bailey Ober (3-1) scuffled to the win, despite allowing four runs on six hits in six innings. Ober said he was still feeling the “low energy” effects of an illness he has since had last week, but his teammates came through with run support.
“You can just tell there's not a whole lot of pressure being put on ourselves,” Ober said. “I feel that's the biggest thing, is just leaning on each other and trusting our teammates.”
Flexen allowed two runs on four hits in five innings and left with a 4-2 lead. Dominic Leone (0-1), the second of five Chicago relievers, gave up two runs in the seventh and took the loss.
Twins center fielder Byron Buxton left the game in the second inning with right knee soreness after an unsuccessful attempt to steal second base.
Buxton singled leading off the inning, didn’t slide and was thrown out by Lee. Buxton walked off the field slowly and was replaced in the bottom half by Castro, who moved from third base.
Miranda then entered the game, took over at third and upped his batting average to .375.
“It's good because you see everyone starting to play,” Miranda said. “Everyone's having good at-bats, we're playing great defense. The pitchers are doing their job, so it's awesome to see.”
An All-Star in 2022, Buxton was limited to 85 games as a designated hitter last season because of a right knee injury. Baldelli had no update on the outfielder after the game.
Before the game, Minnesota selected the contract of right-handed reliever Caleb Boushley from Triple-A St. Paul. Left-hander Kody Funderburk was optioned to the farm club.
The White Sox recalled lefty Jared Shuster from Triple-A Charlotte and optioned RHP Prelander Berroa.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Chris Paddack (2-1, 5.88 ERA) starts Friday against Boston in Minneapolis.
White Sox: RHP Brad Keller (0-0, 0.00) faces Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray (3-1, 1.16) at St. Louis on Friday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago White Sox's Tommy Pham celebrates with teammates after scoring on a n RBI single by Andrew Vaughn during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago White Sox's Robbie Grossman hits a one-run double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen throws against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Fans watch during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Tim Hill tosses a ball during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago White Sox shortstop Paul DeJong, right, throws to first after forcing out Minnesota Twins' Jose Miranda at second during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Minnesota Twins' Ryan Jeffers was safe at first. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Minnesota Twins' Jose Miranda hits a one-run single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa celebrates with teammates after scoring on a one-run single by Minnesota Jose Miranda during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Minnesota Twins players celebrate after the Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 10-5 in a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Minnesota Twins' Ryan Jeffers celebrates with teammates after scoring on a one-run single by Willi Castro during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Minnesota Twins' Ryan Jeffers scores on a one-run single by Willi Castro during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
