WRITTEN QUESTION E-3400/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (28 October 1997)

Subject: Human rights in North Korea

As many as a million people have apparently starved to death in North Korea. The terrifying figure is thought to appear in a secret North Korean Communist Party document. What is certain in any event is that North Korean agriculture is in such extreme difficulties that children are suffering from severe malnutrition and are even being abandoned by the roadside. Farmers are so weak with hunger that they cannot satisfy their needs by cultivating the land.

According to current estimates, there is a shortage of between one and two million tonnes of food, yet the requests to the United Nations in April of this year spoke of just 200 000 tonnes. The reluctance to ask for sufficient international aid stems from the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's fear that the widespread presence of international agencies necessary to implement a massive food aid programme could undermine his leadership.

Beyond the political manoeuvring, however, North Korea remains trapped in a desperate plight. The country's civilian population has to make do with a daily intake of 750 to 1 000 calories, whereas 2 500 calories are required for a normal diet.

Will the Commission therefore furnish an official report and appeal to the North Korean Government to remedy the serious crisis?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (25 November 1997)

The Commission agrees that the situation in North Korea is grave. However, due to the country's isolation, it is very difficult to confirm data and figures concerning the extent of the humanitarian plight.

Substantial humanitarian assistance is given by the Community to North Korea both in the form of food aid and support for special health and nutritional programmes. Community emergency aid goes back to 1995 (the time of the first serious flooding), and has consisted of food aid and emergency supplies and medicines. As matters have deterioriated, the Community has intervened to provide further aid to the most affected groups of people.

The latest aid package was announced by the Commission in May this year, and it comprises both food aid as well as public health and nutritional support programmes. The food aid, which consisted mostly of cereals, as well as vegetable oil, sugar and pulses, is being distributed in close collaboration with the United Nations world food programme (WFP). A separate nutritional programme for children and a comprehensive package of health support measures are being delivered in conjunction with the United Nations childrens fund and a variety of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Certain aid measures are concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the country, which have been identified as especially hard hit. Children, the elderly, and pregnant women are recognised as priority groups.

In total, the Community's support in 1997 has been worth around 66.5 MECU and is ahead of other leading donors such as the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

With regard to North Korean authorities, the Commission has at present 6 technical assistants based in the country to see that Community aid is correctly distributed (four to monitor food aid and deliveries and two for public health and nutritional support programmes). Within the terms of reference of these technical assistants is a requirement to report on the humanitarian situation as perceived. The Commission's information is that following food aid deliveries and the new harvest the situation remains serious but under control. Prospects for 1998 remain extremely precarious and the Commission does not rule out the need for further humanitarian assistance.

The Republic of Korea government has a clear interest in stability on the peninsula and is contributing to the world food programme appeal.