UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is launching an emergency operation to address the urgent needs of 3.5 million people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters here Friday.

"The WFP says it is commencing its operation because government rations were currently providing only half of people's daily food needs," said Nesirkty.

According to a WFP press release, the operation is planned for one year and will cost more than 200 million US dollars.

Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched a 20- million-US dollar appeal to prevent the development of acute malnutrition in the DPRK and will focus on the five most food insecure provinces, said Nesirky.