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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 LINKS
In one of the most secretive countries in the world, a massive human tragedy appears to be unfolding. If the reports trickling out are correct, millions of North Korean children and residents are starving.
Even as the two relief agencies were answering their questions, the situation continued to be in flux. On Tuesday, the North Korean ambassador to Egypt and his brother, a trade representative based in Paris, defected to the United States. Their defection, although not directly tied to the famine, was yet another example of the tensions between the U.S. and the reclusive communist nation.
In an effort to feed its people, North Korea has taken several steps to open communication with western governments and non-profit relief agencies. Just this month, officials from North Korea, China, South Korea and the United States began discussions in New York to decide on an agenda and venue for the broader peace talks. Eventually, the negotiations could lead to closer relations between North and South, which would make more food aid possible.
Although reports of wide-spread famine began coming out last summer, it was not until this summer that the reclusive communist nation allowed the United Nations and other groups to begin relief work. The work since that time has been complicated by politics and long-held mistrust between the North and the pro-western South. South Korea, which was invaded by the North in the 1950's, worried that food aid given to their adversary would be used to feed the million man North Korean army.
Many of the non-profits working in Korea have been frustrated by the lack of attention that the famine has received by western governments and media. Ted Yamamori, president of Food for the Hungry, criticized the reaction by wealthier countries during a trip to the affected areas.
"The people of North Korea appear to be suffering from hunger on the level of the notorious Somalia and Ethiopia famines," Yamamori said. "Only in North Korea they are suffering in silence out of the view of the world's media. In kindergartens and nurseries I saw cases of severe malnutrition."
World Vision vice president Andrew Natsios criticized the U.S. government for not being more active in the relief effort.
"The United States Government is taking its lead from South Korea, its ally, which we certainly respect, but I think it's inappropriate in this case when people's lives are at risk," Natsios said during his appearance on the NewsHour. "The South Korea government is very hostile because they're threatened by the North Korean military machine, which is huge, and the South Korea government is lobbying very hard not to spend--not to send too much food in. They want to spend a very modest amount, which is what's happened. And as a result of that, there's nowhere near enough food in, and they have virtual veto power, the South Korea government, over the Japanese and the United States and the Europeans."
Issues addressed in this forum: Is enough being done to end the suffering in North Korea? Should the U.S. and other government follow South Korea's lead? What can be done by others to help the victims? Is the slow reaction the fault of North Korea, South Korea or some other factor?
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...
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