The People of North Korea Face a Severe Struggle Against Hunger and Death - 2003-05-27

A Catholic charity organization named Caritas states that if foreign countries and organizations reduce their aid to North Korea, the communist country will once again face a deadly famine. The charity organization today called on the world to send more than two and a half million dollars worth of food and medical supplies to the impoverished Stalinist nation of North Korea. An official from the charity said that the people of North Korea are facing a severe struggle against hunger and death, with food rations reduced to about 270 grams per day, equivalent to only one thousand calories. This official stated that the plight of the North Korean people stems from the regime's nuclear confrontations. For years, North Korea has relied on foreign aid to feed its population, but since seven months ago, when the U.S. accused the North Korean regime of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program, the amount of foreign aid to the country has significantly decreased. Today, the South Korean Minister of Finance announced that if the North Korean regime continues to escalate tensions regarding its nuclear crisis, South Korea will halt the delivery of humanitarian aid to North Korea.