DATE=5/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249965
TITLE=NORTH KOREA FOOD / L-O
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: OFFICIALS OF AN AID GROUP THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE
FOOD-RELIEF EFFORT IN FAMINE-STRICKEN NORTH KOREA SAY THE
RECLUSIVE COUNTRY'S GOVERNMENT FEELS THE CRISIS STAGE IS OVER.
HOWEVER, IT STILL NEEDS FOREIGN HELP. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER
WILKISON REPORTS WORLD VISION -- A CHRISTIAN CHARITY -- SAYS,
EVEN WITH A GOOD HARVEST THIS YEAR, NORTH KOREA WILL STILL NEED
AT LEAST 100 MILLION TONS OF FOOD FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
TEXT: DEAN HIRSCH -- WORLD VISION'S INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT --
SPOKE TO REPORTERS IN BEIJING AFTER A FIVE-DAY TRIP TO NORTH
KOREA. HE SAYS THERE IS EVIDENCE THE FOOD SITUATION THERE IS
STILL DIRE, BUT THAT IT HAS STABILIZED.
///HIRSCH ACTUALITY///
THE ONE STATEMENT THAT I WOULD MAKE IS THAT THE
STABILITY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN SOME SECTORS OF THE
POPULATION IS NOT BASED UPON PRODUCTION WITHIN (NORTH
KOREA), BUT IT IS BASED UPON THE FOREIGN AID THAT IS
COMING IN.
///END ACTUALITY///
MR. HIRSCH SAYS THE NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT HAS MOBILIZED EVERY
AVAILABLE CITIZEN TO GO INTO THE RICE FIELDS TO ASSURE THE
COUNTRY OF A GOOD HARVEST THIS YEAR. BUT HIS COLLEAGUE --
CHARLES CLAYTON -- SAYS NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS TOLD HIM THAT,
EVEN IN THE BEST OF CASES, THEY WILL STILL HAVE TO DEPEND ON FOOD
AID.
///CLAYTON ACTUALITY///
THEY, THEMSELVES, ESTIMATE THEY WILL NEED 650 MILLION
TONS OF FOOD SUPPLY BUT CAN ONLY PRODUCE 550 MILLION
TONS OF FOOD SUPPLY. AND -- EVEN AT OPTIMISTIC LEVELS
-- EVEN THIS HARVEST IS LIKELY STILL TO NEED 100 MILLION
METRIC TONS STILL BROUGHT IN FROM OUTSIDE. AND THIS
MEANS THAT DEPENDING ON EXTERNAL AID IS STILL THE CASE.
///END ACTUALITY///
AID WORKERS SAY THE FAMINE THAT HAS RAVAGED NORTH KOREA SINCE
1995 RESULTED NOT ONLY FROM FLOODS, DROUGHTS AND OTHER NATURAL
DISASTERS BUT ALSO FROM STRUCTURAL INEFFICIENCIES IN FARM POLICY.
MR. CLAYTON -- WHO HEADS WORLD VISION'S BRITISH CHAPTER -- QUOTES
ONE NORTH KOREAN OFFICIAL AS TELLING HIM THAT THE AUTHORITIES
RECOGNIZE THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
///CLAYTON ACTUALITY///
HE SAID WE WILL HAVE TO CHANGE OUR AGRICULTURE FROM THE
OLD WAYS TO DOING IT IN NEW WAYS. SO, CLEARLY, THERE IS
SOME RECOGNITION THERE THAT, IF THEY ARE GOING TO
IMPROVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, THEY WILL HAVE TO IMPROVE
THEIR TECHNIQUES OF FARMING.
///END ACTUALITY///
MR. HIRSCH AND MR. CLAYTON DO NOT BELIEVE NORTH KOREA CAN BECOME
SELF-SUFFICIENT IN FOOD ANYTIME SOON. MR. HIRSCH SAYS ONE OF THE
REASONS IS THAT IT IS AN INDUSTRIAL COUNTRY AND DOES NOT HAVE
ENOUGH ARABLE LAND. HE SAYS WHAT LITTLE FARMLAND THERE IS HAS
BEEN USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
///HIRSCH ACTUALITY///
THEY SAID TO US: THE LAND IS DIRTY AND TIRED. THEY
HAVE DRAWN OUT ALL THE ESSENCE, THE NUTRIENTS, OUT OF
THE LAND, AND THERE IS POLLUTION IN THE SOIL FROM
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME INTO IT.
///END ACTUALITY///
MR. HIRSCH SAYS ONE SENIOR NORTH KOREAN OFFICIAL TOLD HIM ENERGY,
NOT FOOD, IS NOW THE COUNTRY'S MAIN NEED. HE SAYS FACTORIES AND
COAL MINES ARE BARELY OPERATING, THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF
FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDES, AND FEW TRACTORS AND MOTOR VEHICLES
ARE WORKING. (SIGNED)
NEB / RW / DWJ / WD
29-May-99 7:03 AM EDT (1103 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
