Citing the recent flooding, the dictatorship has asked the international community for food aid.

BBC News - UN: North Korea seeks immediate food aid after floods (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19107049)

Is this the real reason, or are its policies to blame for not being able to provide for its population?

Half of me thinks that we should withhold aid in the hope that internal unrest brings the odious regime down, but this would probably lead to the deaths of large swathes of the already impoverished population, while Kim and his cronies survived.

If aid is given, it should be distributed in such a way that the NK people are made fully aware of who is providing it, the capitalist running dogs they have been brainwashed into believing are the font of all evil.

I could be wrong, it has been known! I get the impression that there is just the very first signs of a thaw with North Korea, this new leader, bringing his new bride into the public eye, it might just be the very beginning of the NKs seeing the light and accepting that they would be better off if they followed some of the examples offered by the West. For the sake of the starving let's hope so.

I think that we should be giving food and other emergency aid to North Korea at this very difficult time for them. Otherwise it will be the peasants that do all the suffering as always in the past. Their new leadership may be waking up to the fact that a nation of only 24 million people cannot possibly operate alone in the modern world. Particularly with sanctions from almost everyone else except China.

They have in the past been given food aid. (This despite their last two "dear" leaders having not shown any personal signs of malnutrition.)

However, I believe the US stopped food aid supplies when they discovered that removing the "USA" stamping from the rice bags was more important than getting the rice to the starving(?) population. In addition, there were rumours that the North Korean army was being supplied the donated food on a priority basis.

North Korea is much like China was: a mad communist dictator (in the case of China it was Mao Tse Tung) in charge who has no problems with starving his own people. (Mao successfully starved some 30 million of his people during the sadistically named "Great Leap Forward". Right up there with Hitler and Stalin.

I think we should be very generous and send them a couple of buckets of sunshine. :}

I agree with your views, Victor Inox.

Just so sad that the nations that are prepared to supply North Korea with nuclear technology etc are so slow to come forward with flood aid.

Maybe they can order some Kan Pao (number 7) chicken for 24 million.

Fcuk North Korea. Let the regime die.

Ozzy

However, I believe the US stopped food aid supplies when they discovered that removing the "USA" stamping from the rice bags was more important than getting the rice to the starving(?) population



Sigh, nice try, but no. Food aid supplies were suspended when North Korea broke their word about the missile tests. Had nothing to do with your pub rumour talk looking for things to bash the US about.

It is not because of the United States that people are starving to death in North Korea, it is the fault of the North Korean Government.

Perhaps with this new request for food aid coupled with the latest Dear Leader's marriage, there may be some softening in Pyongyang's attitude toward the west and its own people. We can only hope so.

Well I walked through Wigan town centre thia afternoon with my collection tin shouting loudly "Any for Korea", but the sum proceeds was nowt, nill, zilch.

Perhaps it was the way I shouted (sounded like Any f**ker here ???).

Lid

Had nothing to do with your pub rumour talk looking for things to bash the US about.

Con-pilot. I was not bashing the US. If you have nothing else to spew out than (false) accusation, I suggest you shut the f"ck up.

Con-pilot. I was not bashing the US. If you have nothing else to spew out than (false) accusation, I suggest you shut the f"ck up.

Oh boy, oh boy, an internet tough guy. :p

removing the "USA" stamping from the rice bags was more important than getting the rice to the starving(?) population

Okay, if not a sniping, insulting comment that could certainly be taken as a bash, just what is the meaning of the wording of that comment of your?

You are saying that because of national pride, the US is allowing people to starve to death. A statement that is not true. Therefore, why did you post that if not to demean the US?

You give me a good explanation and not only will I retract my post, I will also apologize.

Back in your court.

Con-pilot. I was not bashing the US. If you have nothing else to spew out than (false) accusation, I suggest you shut the f"ck up.

Unfortunately, even Al-Jazeera backs up c-p's post. So, since you made the (false) accusation re:

However, I believe the US stopped food aid supplies when they discovered that removing the "USA" stamping from the rice bags was more important than getting the rice to the starving(?) population.

I reckon you might be best to reconsider what you said in reply to c-p.

Of course, you may mean that the PRNK were removing the "USA" stamping from the rice bags. That means it is still a (false) accusation as the food aid was stopped for the reasons c-p said.

Con

The way that statement reads, it appears NK were more interested in removing the USA labels from the bags of rice so they gave the appearance of coming from the govt of NK, than making sure the food was distributed to those in need. I don't believe VI had any intention of taking a dig at the US.

My opinion, for what it's worth. Could be wrong.

Con-pilot. I was not bashing the US. If you have nothing else to spew out than (false) accusation, I suggest you shut the f"ck up.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm107/APC11Fan/EpicLives.jpg

The way that statement reads, it appears NK were more interested in removing the USA labels from the bags of rice so they gave the appearance of coming from the govt of NK, than making sure the food was distributed to those in need. I don't believe VI had any intention of taking a dig at the US.

My opinion, for what it's worth. Could be wrong.

Okay, I'm reading it again, just to make sure I'm not taking things out of context. Be right back.

The things is, SRT, there hasn't been a reference to the bit about "removing the USA label" in any report I've found so far.

Sure, in 2011, aid was stopped because of, amongst other things, the food going to where it WASN'T needed (army, police, government) but that wasn't just food aid from the USA as it was also stopped by the EU, Australia and S. Korea.

In 2009, the PRNK kicked out the US NGO's involved in distributing the food aid and rejected more US food aid, after a UN inspector stated that those who needed the food weren't getting it.

This year, the US stopped the food aid over the missile launches in April.

So where is there anything about anyone "removing the USA label from rice bags"?

However, I believe the US stopped food aid supplies when they discovered that removing the "USA" stamping from the rice bags was more important than getting the rice to the starving(?) population. In addition, there were rumours that the North Korean army was being supplied the donated food on a priority basis.


Sorry, but that's about how I see it. With the bold bits, it sure looks insulting toward the US, as we stopped the aid because the lettering USA was removed from the food aid bags and boxes, thereby letting people starve to death in North Korea.

Maybe it is language context error? You know, two people speaking the same language but not understanding each other.

Anyway, its in Victor Inox's court now. Lets see what he says. Did I misunderstand your post?

I'm betting Victor is an exceptionally good sprinter. :}

Sharpest tool in the drawer. :E

http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2010_04_07-knives.jpg

Fcuk North Korea. Let the regime die.

The regime will live on, its the poor ordinary folks who will get the task of dying.

gerry111
I think that we should be giving food and other emergency aid to North Korea at this very difficult time for them.

Nobody is stopping you.

You mean you think that I, and others, should be throwing money at them.

Pickpocket.

SO

No to aid.

There's plenty of friends in the world that could be fed instead of an enemy's army during a cease fire.

F*ck. I thought it said "Aldi,"

Victorinox produces the best blades around, and fine luggage and shaving kits as well.

As for N. Korea, the dilemma is, Do we let people starve or do we have conditions? I submit that holding to conditions now will result in the greater good, just like I felt that eliminating Saddam Hussein would ultimately prove better for Iraqis.

Sending food to N. Korea enables the evil to continue, perpetuating the current condition of grass eating to survive by the people. Withdrawing support forces the issue in the hope the regime will fail and the people will revolt.

Is it worth sacrificing a million lives now to save 10 million lives? I think it is, but I'll leave the discussion to wiser philosophers.

Today, I think the N. Korean regime is evil, therefore I seek to defeat and eliminate it.

Get China to look after the starving masses - it supports that dogshit regime.
Why should free countries get preyed upon and psyched up by UN do-gooders
to have to take responsiblilty? Fcuk 'em - and fcuk the UN too. :*

China do give them food aid, slasher, they were the only ones who didn't stop it this year.

My post was in regard to the perceived intent of VI in his post that offended Con, Mr HB. I haven't done any research as to the facts of the matter, so any opinion offered by me on those would be pure speculation until I do.

Well, SRT, as con said it can easily be read as an attack on the USA. After all, why would the USA stop food aid if someone else was taking off the "USA" labels as the food would still be getting through.

Also, since there are absolutely no references to that in ANY report, VI talking about someone else dishing out "(false) accusations" is a bit rich since that is what he did, irrespective of who he meant was taking off the "USA" labels on the rice bags.

Slasher


Get China to look after the starving masses - it supports that dogshit regime.
Why should free countries get preyed upon and psyched up by UN do-gooders
to have to take responsiblilty? Fcuk 'em - and fcuk the UN too. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/bah.gif


Think I liked your posts better when you complained about your good lady's taste in loud music.
Time to realise the difference between regime and "starving masses"

Con Pilot
I think you're being uncharacteristically sensitive about IV's post. Not everything is about US bashing. I read the post more as criticising the NK government as a US bashing exercise.

Hellsbrink


Also, since there are absolutely no references to that in ANY report, VI talking about someone else dishing out "(false) accusations" is a bit rich since that is what he did, irrespective of who he meant was taking off the "USA" labels on the rice bags


Are you saying you have read EVERY report published on the subject? That is what is implied in your post.

I have looked at approximately 50 individual reports from major, reputable, news sites.

I've also looked at the actual statements issued by the US, EU, S. Korea, etc.

NONE of them say anything about

the US stopped food aid supplies when they discovered that removing the "USA" stamping from the rice bags was more important than getting the rice to the starving(?) population.

Since the statements from the actual Governments/entities involved are what the press reports, I stand by what I have said.

In fact, Shack, if you want to be fussy, google (http://www.google.com/search?sugexp=chrome,mod=5&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=north+korea+removing+usa+label+food+aid)

north korea removing usa label food aid


You will see, on the first 4 pages of results, that the only place these words appear in the same sentence is on this thread.

I stand by what I have said.

I would be happy if the Chinese, who sustain N. Korea's regime, would take responsibility for the total sustenance of the people of N. Korea.

The US has no interest in feeding people who are indoctrinated to hate us. Same applies to S. Korea.

As an aside, anyone who has flown into Gimpo or Incheon over the last 20 years or so will affirm that S. Korea is brightly lit, but N. Korea is dark. Left vs. Right, eh?

Con Pilot
I think you're being uncharacteristically sensitive about IV's post. Not everything is about US bashing. I read the post more as criticising the NK government as a US bashing exercise.

You could very well be correct, that is why I requested VI to please clarify his post so as to clear up any misunderstanding.

I've yet to received a reply since his last blow up.

Whatever one thinks about giving aid to North Korea one cannot turn down an opportunity to bring the country back into the rest of the World. It is easy to see why they are short of food. A massive army, a subversant population, a topography that does not lend it self to efficient farming methods plus some heavy flooding.
The recent ascension of Kim Jong-un may mark the beginning of some sort of dialogue between the two Koreas. He is young and has no first hand knowledge of the great Communist efforts of Stalin and Mao. In fact the only Communist regimes he knows are those of the modern Russia and China.

He will have to get rid of the old guard first and there is a chance that he has started this by dumping his Army chief of staff and replacing him with a relatively unknown. There is also his private life. It has been announced that he is married to a popular Korean singer. This is almost without precedence in a Communist hierarchy; wives were only seen at their funerals. Apart from Gorbachev all the wives of Russian and Chinese leaders are virtually unknown. Maybe, just maybe, he has different ideas about the future of Korea than his father and grandfather.

It may be a start of a long road.

S. Korea is brightly lit, but N. Korea is dark


Probably to give NK better night vision watching SK http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/wink2.gif

It may be a start of a long road.

Let us hope so, even Raul Castro is sending out feelers. It would be great if both North Korea and Cuba joined the rest of the world.

It's very interesting to see how easy it is to write an ambiguous statement. con read it literally, but I didn't.

Despite the wording, I made the assumption NK would be humiliated by the food arriving in US marked bags, so it would be the NK government that would spend time snipping at the sackcloth rather than getting the food to the starving.

One can see the point of a regime that tries to fool all of the people all of the time. You can't be seen to be taking handouts.

There was no excuse for IV's reaction. Doesn't he know we're all gentlefolk hereabouts. Most of the time.:E

Despite the wording, I made the assumption NK would be humiliated by the food arriving in US marked bags, so it would be the NK government that would spend time snipping at the sackcloth rather than getting the food to the starving.


LR
Exactly what I was trying to say earlier (probably ambiguously):ok:

in the telegraph...

The Guardian is right: peaceful, democratic North Korea deserves its place at the Olympics – Telegraph Blogs (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100174606/the-guardian-is-absolutely-right-peaceful-democratic-north-korea-deserves-its-place-at-the-olympics/)


http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/files/2012/08/kim-460x288.jpg (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100174606/the-guardian-is-absolutely-right-peaceful-democratic-north-korea-deserves-its-place-at-the-olympics/kim/)
The Guardian's Paul Watson is right - North Korea is misunderstood

A year ago I applied for a visa to visit North Korea and watch her athletes prepare for the 2012 London Olympics. I learned that my application had been successful while walking my dog through Regents Park. A man in a sombrero stuck a needle in me, covered my head in a pillow case, threw me in the back of a truck and drove me to the airport. Ten hours later I was in the sunny Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. And nothing says “howdy stranger” like being kept in a rat infested cell for two weeks.
Finally convinced that I’m not the agent for a superpower (I am, after all, British) they drove me to the athletes' training camp. It’s located in the foothills of the beautiful Mount Baekdu, where the North Koreans believe that Kim Jong-Un gave birth to himself.

Kim’s team usually only excels in traditional North Koreans sports, the kind of things that children still play on the streets of Pyongyang today – games like Run For Your Life, Stay Under Water Very Long, and Aim For The Heart. But no one can deny that the DPRK is undergoing a significant change, reflected in the fact that this year the republic is entering heats for both dressage and etching.

Since taking power, Kim has shifted authority from the army to the party, retired some old colonels, appeared in public much more often than his father and even shown off his wife to the international press. The more liberal atmosphere is reflected in how the athletes train. In the bad old days, the “stick” method was preferred. This involved Kim chasing the 100 yard sprinter along the track with a big stick. Today’s modern communist uses the “carrot” method. That involves Kim standing at the finishing line holding out a carrot for the first man who reaches it to eat. Of course, being a man with a healthy sense of humour, Kim sometimes eats the carrot himself. My guide told me that this is proof that he has the “common touch.”

Finally I was introduced to Kim. His grandfather was known as Great Leader and his father as Dear Leader, but Kim prefers to travel under the title Amiable Leader. His summer lodgings are a modest Tudor home comprising 12 bedrooms, 4 living rooms, 2 swimming pools and a shark tank. It’s here that many of North Korea’s greatest art treasures are stored, including video tapes of all 139 episodes of MacGyver.

After the traditional North Korean greeting of a cavity search we sat down for a traditional lunch of caviar, champagne and a lot of cake. “Amiable Leader,” I said, “can you tell me what message you expect your team will bring to the world?” “Get us the Hell out of here!” laughed Kim. “No, seriously, I’m only kidding you, Tim. The message they will deliver is, ‘Don’t believe all the American propaganda.’ North Korea is ‘A-O-K’ – as MacGyver would say.”

“But what about all the rumours of famine?” I asked. He replied: “All nonsense, dude! Last week, I opened a new theme park in Pyonyang called Super Fun Amazing World of Colourful Horses. If everyone was starving in North Korea, would we be building roller coasters everywhere?”
“And what about the stories of torture, lack of civil rights, lack of freedom of speech?” I said. Kim chuckled, “Look, buddy, this is a free country and people are free to say whatever they like about how awful America is. But it works both ways. You’ve gotta respect people’s right to pull out finger nails.”

“Finally, Amiable Leader, would you like to pass comment on your host for the Olympics, Great Britain?” “Hey, I might be a mass murdering dictator, but at least I didn’t vote Liberal Democrat – am I right!?” He gave me a high-five. “But seriously, someone who impresses me very much is Boris Johnson. It seems like that dude can do anything and no one cares. If Boris Johnson tested a nuclear missile in Bermondsey, people would be all like, ‘O, that’s just Boris. He’s just having a laugh.’ I could learn a lot from that guy.”

It was getting dark and that’s when North Koreans traditionally come out to forage for food. So I said goodbye to the Amiable Leader and headed for home. My impressions of the Democratic People’s Republic? From the view I got, it’s a tolerant, progressive nation that absolutely deserves to be invited to the Olympic Games and to hold a seat at the United Nations. Any attempt to criticise it is obviously an act of capitalist propaganda.

The Guardian newspaper was absolutely right to publish an editorial attacking the “one-sided journalism” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/19/korean-conflict-time-nuanced-view) that paints this country as a totalitarian nightmare. Good for them.

Time to realise the difference between regime and "starving masses"

Shack37...there's a big difference between what's happening in NK and what
happened years ago in Biafra and Ethiopia. The present incumbent FLUF will
be no different than the previous FLUFs, except maybe make a few cosmetic
changes to pacify the free countries. Communism can only begin to fall when
it starts rotting from within. If China wants to keep propping it up to prevent
its decay then it should take the full responsibility of feeding the NK masses.

The UN and its sycophant do-gooders can still go to buggery. I don't see its
General Assembly putting pressure on China to get positive changes in NK.

Exactly what I was trying to say earlier (probably ambiguously)

And since there is nothing official from the US that says what you said, it's a lie as the US NEVER stopped food aid over that.

Which is exactly what I said.

Hellsbrink

And since there is nothing official from the US that says what you said, it's a lie as the US NEVER stopped food aid over that.

Which is exactly what I said.


At no point did I say the US stopped food aid so where did I lie? My comment quoted above by you referred to the interpretation I put on the opening post as being critical of the NK government and was in direct reply to a post by Loose rivets. (who put it much better than I had)

An example of ambiguous reading on your part perhaps?

My mistake, shack, I am allowed to make one occasionally. I am sorry for mixing you and VI up, which can happen when posting before the coffee has kicked in.

Aid for North Korea?
No problem. Just empty all the dog's homes and send them.
Partial to a bit of dog are your North Koreans.

Apparently the North Koreans don't mind American markings on the food aid as they are telling the population it is war reparations from a defeated enemy.:rolleyes:

Shack 37:

Con Pilot
I think you're being uncharacteristically sensitive about IV's post. Not everything is about US bashing. I read the post more as criticising the NK government as a US bashing exercise.

Precisely, Shack 37. :ok: And anybody who believes there are "pubs" in North Korea is seriously out of their depth. The bars in the Koryo or the Yang Gak Do are about as close as you can get to a watering hole.

Good to see that there is always ample money left in North Korea for essentials, such as a Christian Dior handbag for first lady Ri Sol-Ju, who was shown with this new acquisition in pictures published in the South Korean press yesterday.

Unless it's a fake, she's spent around $1,500 on it - or lots of bags of rice. A bit like what the bitch married to Mugabe does with that country's (little) money.

Maybe she is independently wealthy. And I think a CD purse is a bit more than $1,500.

Swing Swing...