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“Concerns that Food Aids to North Korea Is Exclusively for the Military”

“Concerns that Food Aids to North Korea Is Exclusively for the Military”

Posted June. 03, 2004 21:57,   

한국어

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Pacific Affairs James Kelly expressed concern on June 2 saying that it is difficult to verify that the food aid to North Korea has, in fact, been distributed to the people and that it might be exclusively used to maintain the North’s military.

At a hearing held by the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the House Committee on International Relations, Kelly mentioned problems such as North Korea’s overuse of (food) aids, possibility of military having precedence in food distribution, and the military-first policy, explaining that the U.S. government was closely re-examining its aid to the North for this year, requested by the World Food Programme.

Subsequently, regarding economic cooperation between the two Koreas, he asserted, “I believe there is no problem as long as it is pushed forward in a serious and transparent manner and is not a subsidy to the North’s government and its activities,” suggesting that he is closely watching the inter-Korean economic cooperation, viewing it in the same context as food aids to the North.

Assistant Secretary Kelly stressed, “The U.S. has supplied an estimated $800 million (approximately 930 billion won)-worth of food to North Korea in the past several years. Though there are about 50 WFP international inspectors in North Korea, because inspection activities are limited for most of them, it is difficult to track the aids.”

He also pointed out, “Apart from the nuclear issue, North Korea’s conventional army, which excessively exhausts aid to the North, is still a problem. Because food is replaceable, it is possible that North Korea is giving priority to its military demands with its own food supply, thanks to our food aid.”

Kelly also added, “Though the nuclear issue is a top priority regarding North Korea, the nation’s human rights issue and production of ballistic guided missiles are also grave problems.”

“Although North Korea is partly undergoing economic changes, it is too soon to call this a reform. The North is showing slight signs of opening its doors,” he assessed.



Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com