2008.09.30
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) recommended to the Minister of Unification to provide humanitarian food aid to North Korea which should be separated from the political matters and to make possible measures to ease domestic and international concerns on transparency in food distribution.
According to information from international community and governmental institutions, North Korea has suffered from severe food shortage due to food production decrease, suspension of food aid from the outside, sharp increase in international food price from floods in 2006 and 2007.
Although estimated numbers of food shortage in North Korea among international organizations and governmental institutions are somewhat different, the Ministry of Unification, NGOs including the Peace Foundation and Good Friends, World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) all estimated that North Korea is short of more than 1,200,000 tons.
The Commission recommended providing humanitarian food aid to North Korea but it emphasized that it should be separated from political matters; concerning that continuous food shortage will result in a critical situation in North Korea.
On December 11, 2006, the Commission had already expressed its position on humanitarian aid to North Korea in ‘The Basic Position on North Korean Human Rights’ and now it suggests specific recommendations of humanitarian food aid.
Meanwhile, the Commission concluded to establish ‘North Korean Human Rights Special Committee’ in the 19th Plenary Committee Meeting held on September 22, 2008. In light of strengthening capabilities in dealing with North Korean Human Rights, the Commission had discussed the establishment of the Committee during the 7th and 18th Plenary Committee Meetings. The Committee will investigate issues related to human rights in North Korea and report them to the Plenary Committee Meeting and the members will be appointed by the Chairperson in early October.
