North Korea pledged aid to avert famine
June 11, 1996
Web posted at: 2:00 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT)From Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-Ae
SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Citing North Korea's severe food shortage, South Korea, Japan and the United States have pledged $15 million in relief aid for the flood-stricken Communist nation.
The nations were responding to last week's international appeal by the United Nations for $43.6 million to help ease the effects of devastating floods in North Korea last summer.
Japan, which is donating $6 million, and South Korea, which has pledged $3 million, announced their donations Tuesday. The United States said last week it would provide $6 million.
Although North Korea and South Korea never signed a formal peace treaty after the Korean War ended in 1953, Kwon O-Kie, South Korea's minister of unification, said Seoul is donating milk power and baby formula as a humanitarian gesture.
It's believed those items were chosen to prevent the aid from being diverted to North Korea's military.
Kwon said additional aid could be discussed if North Korea participates in recently proposed peace talks.
Humanitarian gesture
Of Japan's $6 million donation, $5 million will be funneled through the World Food Program to flood victims, and $1 million will support a U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) nutritional supplementary program, Japanese government officials said.
Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto alluded to the donation on Monday, but not its size, when he told reporters Tokyo was ready to assist North Korea "from a humanitarian point of view." The two countries have no diplomatic relations.
Just as in South Korea, there had been debate in Japan about whether to give aid, in case it was used to support North Korean troops rather than the flood victims. Japan donated $500,000 to North Korea through the United Nations last September.
Eating leaves and roots
The North American director of the U.N. World Food Program, Douglas Casson Coutts, has warned that malnutrition is increasing in North Korea. He said government-distributed staple food rations had been reduced to eight ounces a day for most people, less than half the amount needed by an average adult.
Peasant families who normally eat meals of rice with traditional greens and herbs as side dishes now serve leaves and roots as the main dish, he said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- U.S. plans food aid to North Korea; Dole objects - June 7, 1996
- North Korea at risk of famine - May 14, 1996
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