Washington Post: North Korea is facing a food crisis. ‘Maximum pressure’ by the U.S. may make it worse.
“North Korea is slashing food rations after the worst harvest in a decade. It is also struggling with one of the highest rates of tuberculosis in the world. Aid workers and food security experts are now asking: Is the U.S. policy of ‘maximum pressure’ on Kim Jong Un’s regime making the problems worse? … Analysts say there is no doubt that the ultimate blame for the humanitarian crisis rests with Pyongyang, which has spent hugely on nuclear advances and other military projects while neglecting the welfare of ordinary citizens. But leading medical and humanitarian experts also argue that U.S.-led sanctions — which include fuel imports — have also stifled North Korean agriculture and prevented the arrival of vital medical aid. … ‘U.S. policy is to ensure that the strict implementation of sanctions does not impede the delivery of legitimate humanitarian assistance to the North Korean people,’ said a State Department email…” (Denyer, 5/8).