`N.Korea chose nuclear weapons over feeding its people`

"We had electricity for just an hour every three days in Sinuiju. So it makes absolutely no sense (for North Korea) to use money to buy food that could feed its people for several years to develop nuclear weapons."

A 40-something North Korean defector expressed anger when speaking to a Dong-A Ilbo reporter at a collective shelter for defectors in a small village near North Korean border in China`s Liaoning Province. He moved to China via Sinuiju in November last year. The man said he is preparing to move to South Korea or a third country with five female defectors, with support from a human rights organization in South Korea.

○ Anger over nuclear development in lieu of rice

The defector`s antipathy toward his government`s nuclear development grew only after reading news reports from Chinese and South Korean media after he defected to China. When he lived in North Korea, he thought that owning nuclear weapons could help the Korean people survive against American imperialist aggression.

"As I see the situation in North Korea here, I noticed that it cannot afford to ration food because Pyongyang seeks to build a satellite and develop nuclear weapons. When I was in Joseon (North Korea), I thought food wasn`t rationed because ranking officials pocketed food, but in reality, we`ve been starving because our motherland chose nuclear weapons development over rice purchase."

According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, North Korea spent 2.8 billion to 3.2 billion U.S. dollars to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. This amount would be enough for the Stalinist country to buy food that could feed all of its population for 31 to 36 months.

Unlike this defector, other defectors in hiding still have the belief that their country must strengthen its defense capacity despite poverty and hunger. A 60-something woman who has been at the shelter for seven months said, “(North Korea) launched a satellite to avoid occupation by large forces (the U.S.). Because Joseon (North Korea) retains a strong defense capacity, it remains an independent nation.” This claim was immediately refuted by fellow defectors, however.

○ Economic reform failed due to opposition by Workers’ Party leaders

Defectors said the North Korean economy continued to deteriorate while Pyongyang launched a missile last year and while it prepared for a third nuclear test this time. Economic reforms mentioned last year were awash with rhetoric, but were never implemented, they added.

koh@donga.com