Thanks for the reply.

I'm a journalist at the National Business Review in Auckland, New Zealand, but this is a personal matter..

I stumbled across your pages looking for information on North Korea, which I am hoping to visit in August (assuming the visa is not a problem).

I was very impressed with the work you have done to get aid through to the region, which, from all accounts, is in dire need.

The reason for the trip is that my monther was watching CNN the other day and decided she was sick of seeing all the starving babies and not being able to do anything about it. So she spent two days on the phone trying to find out how to contribute to the famine relief - but basically all the aid agencies were not interested and focus more on the Pacific region.

The she discovered that it is illegal to buy milk powder in New Zealand unless you have a licence - even for humanitarian purposes - which made her really angry, so she decided to go and see for herself how bad things are and how to help.

While she's a very determined and independant traveller, I think she wants me along to give her a hand etc..

Yesterday I called her and recommended she read your pages, as I think you've obviously done all the ground work. We're going to have a discussion later this week about if we should still go, or donate the money instead to your cause... Personally I'd love to go, because it sounds like an amazing experienc, but would feel like it might be money better used to fund the famine relief.

I was wondering if you could advise me on if it is likely to be a problem for me as a journalist to get a visa in Bejing, although I don't have it written on my passport. I guess any coverage in NZ and the Pacific which might reinforce the desperate situation they are in would be helpful.

What do you think?

Regards,

Belinda Milnes