By As the North Korean regime continues to spend money to develop nuclear weapons and long range missiles to threaten their neighbors with, the world continues to have to feed the people of North Korea:
The United States and the United Nations will continue humanitarian aid projects to North Korea, despite the U.N. Security Council’s latest sanctions on the North for nuclear provocations.
In a Saturday interview with Voice of America, spokesman Stephane Dujarric from the U.N. Development Program said that aid projects will continue as planned regardless of the sanctions resolution.
The U.S. State Department’s Agency for International Development (USAID) also plans to continue its medical aid projects for the North.
Speaking to Radio Free Asia, a State Department official said the U.S. is concerned about the North Korean people’s welfare. The source said the U.S. government and four civic groups are currently involved in a four-million-dollar project to provide electricity and equipment to a North Korean hospital. [KBS Global]
I wonder what changes have been made to ensure that the UNDP doesn’t become Kim Jong-il’s personal ATM again?
10:28 am on June 21st, 2009 1
The $4 million that the State Department is dropping into a North Korean hospital should be contingent on Laura Ling getting her ulcer treated there. Hillary Clinton should use such a stipulation before anything more gets shipped there. After all, she has the power to do so since she claims the 2 American girls are a humanitarian issue. I would also insist on a care package for Euna Lee with any food aid, so she gets something out this deal as well. There should be some confirmation that Laura's ulcer is being treated and Euna receives her Girl Scout cookies.
4:48 pm on June 21st, 2009 2
The soldiers have to be fed.
5:03 pm on June 21st, 2009 3
The North Korean soldiers will need their energy if they are called on to kill American soldiers and civilians living in South Korea. The rock soup just isn’t nutritious enough for this high calorie job.
5:39 pm on June 21st, 2009 4
And everyone continues to ponder why North Korea behaves so badly, yet we keep paying them to do so.
7:04 pm on June 21st, 2009 5
#3 that was the most brilliant one line observation I've read on the subject of NK!
9:18 pm on June 21st, 2009 6
Just read an article that says the UN has been asking for $500 million from international donars to help feed the needy in North Korea.
So far it seems they have been only able to get 15% of what they asked for. Reason is food aid has no accountability and most countries believe it either goes to the 1 million or so elite, military, or is sold on the black market, and even exported for a profit.
Very little or none of it ever reaches those in need.