The North Korean media, including the Party publication Rodong Sinmun, are
trumpeting restoration efforts in floodstricken North Hamgyong Province,
declaring it to be the “main target of the 200-Day Battle,” and announcing that “miracles and innovation are occurring everyday.”
The propaganda notes that the restoration of roads,
railroads, idolized historical sites and houses are progressing with tremendous
speed. However, the issue of food supply has been conspicuously absent in the
state media. This is despite the fact that extensive areas of farmland were
destroyed by the floods approximately two weeks before harvest time.
Meanwhile, North Korea continues to actively appeal to the
international community for aid. The regime has made a number of direct requests to the United Nations and the international community for food aid and has
ordered its trading companies at all levels to consider “resolving the issue of
food as the primary task.” Evidence also suggests that the state has issued
instructions to “overstate the severity of the damage.”
The regime is therefore faced with an unusual balance of
contradictions, as it continues to encourage a ‘united spirit’ among its people
against the sanctions, while having no concrete plan to deal with its food
shortage other than to solicit international aid.
A strong case exists for the provision of humanitarian
assistance to those suffering from flood damage in North Korea, despite the
international community’s will to maintain sanctions. However, history has
shown that such donations flow directly to the regime and do not reach the
intended victims in need.
In fact, this author is also from the floodstricken northern
regions of North Korea and wishes more than anything to emphasize the critical
need for food aid to people in the region (including my family members who
remain there). But in light of my past experience, it is highly unlikely that
ordinary residents will receive any aid donated by the international community.
According to recent reports from North Korea, discontent is
rising among military personnel in North Hamgyong’s 9th Corps, border guards,
and law enforcement agencies (Ministry of People’s Security, State Security Department), even more so than in the wider population. The regime is allegedly
attempting to address the complaints from disgruntled soldiers (who normally
survive on a small amount of rice mixed in with cornmeal twice a day) by
announcing, “Just hang in there, food aid (rice) will arrive
shortly.”
These official messages have also been extended to family
members of the security agents as they wait for food rations. There is also a
rumor that trucks from the military and national security organizations are
standing by near Port Chongjin and Najin after switching their license plates
into plate numbers (falsely) showing that they are from collective farms.
This is likely indicative of the North Korean government’s
intent to prioritize local military bases and security agencies when
international food aid arrives, as this year’s military provisions cannot be
appropriated from the collective farms that have been affected by flooding. In
other words, the state will give ultimate priority to the security of the
regime and has little regard for the suffering of its citizens.
Such behavior was well established during the Kim Jong Il
era, where preferential benefits were first given to the military and national
security agencies under the Songun (military-first) policy.
In response to these decisions, local citizens have
commented, “Rice aid has never reached ordinary people like us. We
have no expectations,” and more bluntly, “Those who still expect rations are giant
fools.”
Those who argue for food aid to be sent to the flooded regions of North Korea
are encouraged to reflect on actual statements from the residents such as,
“We have never received any of the food aid.” Unless measures are
enforced to prevent the donated food being solely consumed by the regime’s
oppressive military, it remains extremely unlikely that ordinary North Korean
citizens will receive any of it.
