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| THE NORTH KOREAN FAMINE August 26, 1997 |
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Questions asked
in this forum:
How widespread is the famine? What causes the indifference in South Korea? How likely is another war? Shouldn't we defer to South Korea on questions of aid? How do I help? Wouldn't a free market economy end the famine? How accurate are food estimates in North Korea? How much has China helped its ally? What is being done to prevent future famines? Additional Comments...
NewsHour Backgrounders
August 5, 1997:
The NewsHour reports on new talks between North and South Korea brought about by widespread famine in the North.
June 11, 1997:
Margaret Warner discusses the state of North Korea with World Vision Vice President Andrew Natsios.
April 8, 1997:
Two Senators report on the state of the food crisis in North Korea after returning from the region.
February 11, 1997:
The former U.S. ambassador to South Korea discusses the recent labor unrest there and the famine in North Korea.
December 31, 1996
Charles Krause leads a discussion with two experts on recent tensions between North and South Korea.
November 29, 1996
Rep. Bill Richardson (D-NM) brought home an American man who was being held in North Korea.
May 21, 1996
Facing the real possibility of famine, North Korea's government has allowed United Nations relief officials into what are normally closed borders.
OUTSIDE LINKSVisit the Food for the Hungry and the World Vision Web sites for more information on their work on the Korean Peninsula.
A question from Inshik Kim of Washington, DC: In terms of long-term solutions, what actions are being taken by North Korea to prevent further famines? What are other countries doing also in terms of the long run? How can the U.S. public help?
Andrew Natsios of World Vision responds:
The North Korean government is looking at improvements to its farming practices. Just this week, a delegation of North Korean agricultural officials visited Minnesota and Georgia. The country's currency crisis also will affect how farming is done, as chemical fertilizers are unaffordable.
Mercy Corps International has an agricultural rehabilitation program which includes a three-year model integrated farm project to demonstrates methods to increase food production and promote food security. World Vision and other agencies had donated seeds to help North Korean farmers grow more food. South Korea this week announced that it would shift some of its relief aid from food shipments to helping the country revive its agricultural sector.
Ted Yamamori of Food for the Hungry responds:
The North Koreans are very much in a survival mode. Two congressional staffers said in a report issued earlier today, "It is clear that many children depend almost entirely on food donated by the international community. This food is saving lives."
It is up to the international community to prod North Korea into thinking about long-term solutions that include economic development and agricultural reform. They do need the help of outside experts. Their desperate situation is making them open up inch by inch. For now, emergency food in needed--and more of it.
The best way for people in the United States to respond is to keep informed about the situation, write your government representatives, and support organizations like Food the Hungry which are working to address the immediate and long-term situation in North Korea.
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