North Korean famine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may need to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information. (May 2009)

This article may need to be rewritten entirely to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. You can help. The discussion page may contain suggestions. (May 2009)

North Korean famine
Hangul	고난의 행군
Hanja	苦難의 行軍
Revised Romanization	gonanui haenggun
McCune–Reischauer	konanŭi haenggun

The North Korean famine began in 1995 and peaked in 1997 in North Korea. According to a report by North Korea's Public Security Ministry, the North estimates its losses from 2.5 million to 3 million people from 1995 to March 1998^[1].

Contents 1 Beginning of the famine 2 Estimated deaths 3 Famine status 4 Harvest 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Beginning of the famine

Famine struck North Korea in the mid-1990s, set off by unprecedented floods and the collapse of the Soviet Union^[2][3]. This autarkic urban, industrial society had achieved food self-sufficiency in prior decades through a massive industrialization of agriculture. The economic system relied on "friendship prices" trade with the Soviet Union. The state-controlled economy continued to stagnate throughout the 1990s as a result of poor industrial and agricultural productivity, and the loss of guaranteed markets following the fall of the Soviet Union.

In 1992-1993 the North Korean media began to extol the virtue of having only two meals a day instead of three, claiming the latter was unhealthy and excessive. By 1994, people in some remote areas could not get food for days at a time, despite being issued the usual rationing coupons. Distribution of food was breaking down and, as a result, shops were empty^[4].

In 1995, responding to the North Korean flood that helped cause the famine, the United States government initially provided over $8 million in general humanitarian assistance (the People's Republic of China was the only country to initially contribute more aid). However, eight years later, the United States government had provided $644 million in aid to the country, which comprised nearly 50% of the aid going to North Korea.

The vulnerable agricultural sector experienced a massive failure in 1995-96, expanding to full-fledged famine by 1996-99. In 1995, a series of floods devastated about 40% of North Korea's arable land^[5]. As a result, grain production was reduced by 1.9 million tons, or about 30% of the total amount of grain necessary to feed the people. This trend continued in 1996. In 1997, North Korea was the victim of tidal waves and drought^[6].

[edit] Estimated deaths

Although sometimes the figure is said to be as high as more than 3 million, or 10% of North Korea's population, this figure is considered problematic because it is based on the experience of North Koreans in the province of North Hamgyŏng. The province was one of the most devastated due to its urban environment and lack of agricultural production. Additionally, the original study warned not to extrapolate the death toll of the famine to the whole of North Korea. [1]

By late 1995, the North Korean famine was becoming public knowledge all over the world, and by early 1999 it was being estimated that two to three million people had died prematurely because of the food crisis^[7]. Scholars estimate 600,000 died of starvation (other estimates range from 200,000 to 3.5 million).^[8] The famine was at its peak in mid 1996 to late 1997, much of the destruction occurred in this year. By 1999, food and development aid reduced famine deaths.

As late as 2000, there were frequent reports from certain sources (such as the UN) of famine in all parts of North Korea except Pyongyang^[9]. North Korean citizens ran increasingly desperate risks to escape from the country, mainly into China.

[edit] Famine status

North Korea has not yet resumed its food self-sufficiency and relies on external food aid from China, Japan, South Korea and the United States. In 2002, North Korea requested that food supplies no longer be delivered. (Woo-Cummings, 2002)

In the mid-2000s, the World Food Program reported that famine conditions were in imminent danger of returning to North Korea, and the government was reported to have mobilized millions of city-dwellers to help rice farmers.^[10][11]

As of 2009, famine continues to be a problem for North Korea, although less so than in the mid to late '90s. Flooding in 2007 and reductions in food aid exacerbate the problem, however^[12].

[edit] Harvest

• 1990- 91,000,000 tons
• 1994- 70,830,000 tons
• 1995- 34,990,000 tons
• 1996- 25,020,000 tons
• 1997- 26,850,000 tons
• 1998- 32,020,000 tons
• 1999- 42,810,000 tons
• 2000- 32,620,000 tons

[edit] See also

• 2006 North Korea flooding
• 2007 North Korea flooding
• Kotjebi
• Economy of North Korea
• Famine
• History of North Korea
• List of Korea-related topics

[edit] References