The government should accept the WFP"s request and
promptly carry on its food support to North Korea.
The WFP reported that "the food situation of North Korea is now facing a worst crisis." It has requested our government to support food to North Korea on August 19th, 2008, concluding of "without any support from outside, there will be mass starvation." On September 2nd, the WFP has repeatedly urged our government to join aid to North Korea, reporting of its seriousness which food ration has been cut into 1/3, and there should be a urgent support of 630,000 tons of food worth U$ 503,000,000 for 15 months till November2009.
Lee Myung-bak government has already expressed its official position that humanitarian aid to the North is a separate matter from inter-Korean relationship and nuclear issue. Government authorities, however, takes a timid and negative attitude toward humanitarian assistance to the North, excusing "there was no request from the North," and "it is not that much serious in food crisis to bring mass starvation."
It could be regarded as an intentional overlook on the situation which is causing of mass starvation due to continuing natural disasters since 2006, sudden raise of international food price, and China"s decision to stop food export, and the urgency of the reality which is threatening to death examined through field inspection by the WFP and other assistance organizations.
The National Council of Churches in Korea has, in solidarity with various churches and NGO groups in Korea, requested the government to continuously give humanitarian aid to North Korea without any conditions.
We, hoping that the Lee Myung-bak government not to disappoint people in our nation as well as those who are conscientious in the world, urge it to promptly carry out humanitarian aid to the North beyond any political consideration as follows:
1. We urge the government to examine and to accept the WFP request, and to join the aid to North Korea.
2. We urge the government to make an every effort to directly support the North, without linking the humanitarian aid with other matters in the reality which all kinds of contact is discontinued.
3. The National Council of Churches in Korea will do our best to let humanitarian assistance to North Korea go smoothly.
September 4th, 2008
Rev. Kwon Oh-Sung, General Secretary
Rev. Lee Jong-Bok, Chairperson, Reunification Committee
The National Council of Churches in Korea
