South Korea to allow food aid to North for first time since Kim's death - Polidicks

[quote]Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- The South Korean government on Friday approved the first shipment of food aid to North Korea since the death of dictator Kim Jong Il last month. The South Korean Unification Ministry has given the green light to the sending on January 27 of 180 tons of flour to elementary schools and day care centers by the Korea Peace Foundation, Kim Hyung-suk, a ministry spokesman, said at a briefing. North Korea has agreed to receive the shipment, according to the ministry. Pyongyang announced Kim's death on December 19, setting off speculation about the stability of the reclusive state and its possible consequences for the broader region. Kim's youngest son and chosen successor, Kim Jong Un, has replaced him as the regime's "supreme leader." The country's dysfunctional economy, hurt by failed policies and international sanctions, has resulted in famines and widespread malnutrition during the past two decades. Other countries and international organizations have repeatedly stepped in with food aid, most recently to alleviate chronic malnutrition among the most vulnerable groups. The food aid this month is coming from the peace foundation, a civic group. The South Korean government halted official food aid to the North in 2008, when President Lee Myung-bak's administration took office. Lee has taken a harder line toward Pyongyang than his two most recent predecessors. His government has allowed civic groups to send assistance to the North providing they secure official approval. And it agreed for the first time last year to offer food aid through international organizations. The United States suspended shipments of food aid to North Korea in 2009 amid tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear program and concerns that the supplies were not reaching those most in need. Just before the elder Kim's death, the United States had held discussions with North Korean officials in Beijing to look at monitoring mechanisms required before America could extend food assistance to the North Korean people. The offer of food aid was seen as a way to get North Korea back to negotiations over its uranium enrichment program. The mourning period following Kim's death appeared to put those efforts on hold. Eight officials from the foundation will visit North Korea to deliver the aid on January 27, and two will stay until the following day to monitor the delivery of the food, according to the ministry.[/quote] [url]http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/20/world/asia/north-korea-food-aid/index.html?hpt=wo_bn4[/url]

Maybe Kim Jong Un won't be so bad after all.

the only way to fix north korea is with love.

theyre slowly opening up now that kim jung un is in power

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34341018]Maybe Kim Jong Un won't be so bad after all.[/QUOTE] This has nothing to do with Kim Jong Un specifically - the South suspended food aid when he came to power to remind him that they have his country by the balls economically.

[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;34341112]This has nothing to do with Kim Jong Un specifically - the South suspended food aid when he came to power to remind him that they have his country by the balls economically.[/QUOTE] Well that's a bit nob headish isn't it.

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34341151]Well that's a bit nob headish isn't it.[/QUOTE] Nothing is nobheaded in comparison to best korea's antics.

I'd laugh if it was junk food that gets sent straight to Kim Jong Un to eat while he plays video games.

[QUOTE=Scrimp;34341451]I'd laugh if it was junk food that gets sent straight to Kim Jong Un to eat while he plays video games.[/QUOTE] I listen to the Stephanie Miller show and they joke a lot that Kim Jong Un probably acts like Scott Evil from Austin Powers.