NORTH KOREA: 03/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a €9.1 million humanitarian aid plan to boost healthcare for up to ten million people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The funding, to be allocated by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) under the supervision of Commissioner Poul Nielson, will provide much-needed equipment and medicines, and help rehabilitate health centres, hospitals and specialist facilities. The programmes will be implemented by international agencies operating in the country and monitored by ECHO's support office in Pyongyang. Since 2001, ECHO has provided more than €38 million for humanitarian programmes in North Korea.