Research Reports
Direction for Building Food Assistance Programs to North Korea
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AuthorKim, Younghoon
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Publication Date2016.01.26
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Original
Background of Research
Recently, there are increasing discussions on food assistance to North Korea. Supporters suggest that humanitarian rice assistance resolves both North Korea’s food shortage problem and our rice stock problem simultaneously. Before the argument, we need to discuss ‘the need for food assistance to North Korea’ and ‘the order of food assistance to North Korea’ antecedently. If we establish the differentiated programs for the food assistance to North Korea by necessary situations and goals of food assistance to North Korea, we will be able to discuss this issue on the basis of ‘principles’ and ‘rules’ rather than ‘emotion.’
Method of Research
This study uses literature and data on agriculture and food supply of North Korea and food assistance to North Korea. The main sources of domestic data are Ministry of Unification, Korean Red Cross, aT (Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation), and Statistics Korea. International data and literature are taken from WFP (World Food Program), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), and advanced countries’ reports on food assistance. We investigate the current state of North Korea’s food production and supply through the media, but detailed information is lacking in many cases. To complement this, we utilize ‘Unification and Agriculture Expert Forum’ that the Korea Rural Economic Institute operates to hear valuable experiences and consultation from the professionals directly involved in earlier food assistance to North Korea.
Research Results and Implications
The biggest problem in food assistance to North Korea performed in the past is that various agents have carried disorderedly out food assistance to North Korea. Nominally food assistance can be divided into free-support and non-free-support, and methodically it may be distinguished between bilateral and multilateral assistance. However, the distinction apparently was not clear. This arises because the goals of diverse food assistance programs were indiscriminate. Moreover, food assistance to North Korea was pushed forward without establishing the programs. Our past experiences for food assistance to North Korea suggest that we have to construct systematical programs.
In order to perform ordered food assistance to North Korea, we should begin by making elaborate food assistance programs consistent with various circumstances and objectives. The programs of food assistance to North Korea have to be distinguished between for humanitarian relief and for development cooperation. The former involves food assistance for natural disasters and diseases while the latter can be carried out to support food required for economic development projects.
‘Emergency food assistance program’ can be applied in the region where a major disaster occurs. Support systems that can react immediately for emergency relief North Korea requests are already fitted between the government and the Red Cross.
In addition, the Korean Red Cross, the Red Cross Society of the DPRK, the International Federation of Red Cross have several experiences in performing cooperation projects in these cases. The emergency support programs for North Korea are expected to develop further on the basis of the experiences.
‘Food assistance program for the most vulnerable’ is a program which supply appropriate food to vulnerable North Koreans such as infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and patients. International organizations recently emphasize and implement these support programs. In the past South Korean government also offered North Korea food and nutrition support for vulnerable populations. To make the program stable, we need to utilize a multilateral assistance approach connected with NGOs and international organizations.
‘Food assistance program for development cooperation’ is essential to supply food required for economic and agricultural development cooperation projects in North Korea. We need careful planning for establishing this program because we have had poor experience in the cases.
Besides, the short-term problems, such as distribution transparency and earlier food bonds, must be settled before resuming food assistance to North Korea.
Researchers: Kim Younghoon, Choi Yongho, Lim Chehwan
Research Period: 2015. 1. ~ 2015. 10.
E-mail address: kyhoon@krei.re.kr
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