‘More Transparency in Humanitarian Aid to North Korea’

[imText1]Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet) made a statement on Tuesday to urge more transparency in humanitarian aid to North Korea, in the aftermath of revelation of a video clip in which North Korean army happens to embezzle the aided rice.

On Monday, Japanese Fuji Television disclosed a video clip featuring the scene of KPA soldiers moving South-Korean-sent rice bags to the army warehouse via military trucks and that of North Korean residents watching anti-Kim Jong-Il posters on the wall of a black market near station.

NKnet argued that the video clip unveiled absurdity of the South Korean government’ NK policy.

Also, referring to the domestic and foreign scholars’ and NGOs’ argument for tighter inspection of transparency in humanitarian aid to North Korea, NKnet pointed out that ‘South Korean government’s claim of transparency was turned out be a mere justification.’

And it argued that ‘posting anti-Kim Jong Il propaganda in the middle of the harshest suppression proved how desperately North Korean people were in need for freedom and democracy.’ Thus, NKnet urged South Korean government ‘to seek transparency and reciprocity in humanitarian aid to promote democracy and human rights in NK’.

The full text of the statement is provided below.