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US won’t provide food aid to N. Korea during its worst drought in 100 years

June 17, 2015

Department of Defense Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, that the U.S. has no plans to provide food aid to North Korea during its ongoing drought. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

North Korea is entering what it calls its “worst drought in 100 years” and the U.S. made it clear in a statement Wednesday that it has no plans to take part in providing food aid.

The North has historically relied on international assistance to get through food shortages, but it has been rubbing the rest of the world the wrong way on highly-sensitive issues including nuclear weapons development and alleged human rights abuses.

“I’ve seen the reports about the drought. I don’t have any specific information about the validity of the drought,” U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters during a new brief regarding North Korea’s situation according to Yonhap News Agency.

Kirby was then asked if the U.S. may respond to the reports and provide any sort of assistance with food shortages.

“I’m not aware of any such plans, no,” he said.

The U.S. has offered food aid to North Korea in the past as recent as 2012 in return for halting both the country’s nuclear weapons program and missile development.

After failing to meet the minimum requirements by launching a test rocket, the U.S. rescinded its offer.

29 Comments

RJ Han

June 17, 2015 at 11:52 PM

Good. The fat midget will only be feeding himself and his military anyways.

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lol

June 18, 2015 at 12:11 AM

Aaaand RJ Han’s house just exploded

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ChimChim

June 18, 2015 at 1:55 AM

I wouldnt expect North Korea to offer food aid the Californians during their drought, so yes: North Korea, “go fuck yourself.”

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- Anthony
  
  June 18, 2015 at 6:13 AM
  
  “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good,”
- AnthonyIsRetarded
  
  June 18, 2015 at 10:57 AM
  
  in response to Anthony, that quote cannot be applied to someone who is an active threat, so you’re a moron. Please never write again, Nobida.
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yyyyyyy

June 18, 2015 at 3:35 AM

Lots of innocent people will die over the petty feuding of rich powerful men. I’m not one to call for war but I honestly believe a full scale invasion and occupation of N. Korea will save many more lives than it will cost.

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- Sean Lee
  
  June 18, 2015 at 4:22 AM
  
  Though lots of innocents will die, food aid is probably going to the powerful people and militaries. And though an occupation would be better in the end, it would be political suicide for the president and honestly i don’t think the soldier or even generals will control the area very well (cases of murders and rape).
- theguy9974
  
  June 18, 2015 at 5:27 AM
  
  you forgot that NK is China and Russias shitty little brother
- Lia
  
  June 18, 2015 at 6:32 AM
  
  So invade, and then what? People don’t realize the socio/economic implications this would have. You would have millions and millions of North Koreans “free”—but then what? The VAST majority of them have zero education, employable skills…and you can’t really just throw them to the world. SO many of them have never even seen working electricity. It’s like they are living in the 1800′s. This wouldn’t be an easy adjustment, and almost certainly disastrous for South Korea (there have been a lot of studies done on the subject). Keep in mind this isn’t a thousand people we’re taking about, but quite literally an entire COUNTRY. It’s a terrible situation, with no clear solution.
Um No

June 18, 2015 at 4:06 AM

@yyyyyyy

You have got problems.

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Nowayjose

June 18, 2015 at 4:07 AM

yes but we will save north korean lives at the cost of americans. I know it sounds wrong but why should we give the lives of our children to save theirs?

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Steve Frank

June 18, 2015 at 5:02 AM

Sorry but food shortages are always a good reason to star a revolution. Plus that chubby rat is probably going to send it to the military which is just a paper army to begin with. Every see them doing drills? No because they dont have the gas to run use their equipment.

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Helen

June 18, 2015 at 5:53 AM

They should direct drop food with DVDs to the people. They people know nothing about the outside world.

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Human

June 18, 2015 at 6:40 AM

Question sheeple? How many millions of innocent people has North Korea nuked? Lol….. So they are starving to death because they have a real parasitic sycophant for their countries leader and they have KINDA have nuclear weapons they swear they won’t use unless they have to…..shit that’s america lol. So if you’re starving Fyou america, isreal, Briton, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, Scotland, Australia etc. Stop being such sad sacks of skin wake up n use your own mind. YOU MAY GO BACK TO YOUR AMERICAN IDOL MARATHON! Ah the “outside world” omg lol sheep

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Ohhhboy

June 18, 2015 at 7:24 AM

Hey, “Human.” You used sycophant wrong. Do only sheep use dictionaries?

Baaaaaaaah.

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Paul

June 18, 2015 at 8:34 AM

I’m sure Russia and China are helping with food aid. We shouldnt think too harshly on the Americans for not wanting to aid someone who would surely stick a knife in their back first chance they get.

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Human Mind

June 18, 2015 at 10:04 AM

@Human

America nuked millions of people? Trippy, I’m a history buff and I wasn’t aware of that! Thanks for the informative, non emotional, completely rational argument you offered!

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Live resin

June 18, 2015 at 10:33 AM

Sucks to Be North Korea,Maybe your supreme ruler can Save you….Or Not:)

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Dawn

June 18, 2015 at 11:59 AM

The world said, “never again” to the holocaust. Why is the world allowing concentration camps and crimes against humanity again!?! The people of North Korea will never see aide provided by other countries. Instead, spend the money to liberate the camps. Not feed an army that hates us.

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Tea Time

June 18, 2015 at 12:56 PM

@Helen

Unfortunately, theres quite a shortage of electricity in NK, never mind DVD players. Educating North Koreans will be a very complex process when the time comes.

I recommend that everyone read about Shin Dong-hyuk, the only North Korean to ever escape a maximum security internment camp. He was born and raised in the camp and, therefore, grew up thinking that the whole world was just endless internment camps. It wasn’t until he was 23 that he met a man who had lived on the outside that Shin learned that there was meat other than rat meat. He saw freedom as a place where he could eat as much as he wanted. The two men planned to escape together and only Shin survived. His life after his escape serves as an example of how difficult it is to become a member of modern society after being incredibly isolated. It also shows us that with the right tools and approach, education and rehabilitation is possible for even the most unfortunate.

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Vou Xiong

June 18, 2015 at 1:40 PM

Good for the US. Why would you want to help someone who will turn around and bomb you at any given opportunity. Well done US.

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Dawn

June 18, 2015 at 1:41 PM

Amen to that
Not an excuse to leave as is just because it might be too hard. Tonight when we are having dinner and enjoying our lives. Let’s think of those who are being beaten, abused and killed. Let’s look at our children as they safely go to sleep tonight in a clean comfortable bed, while a mom or dad in another country are watching their children starved or worked to death. It would be hard! But how can the UN sit back and not take action, that’s why it was put in place. To protect and over see when an unjust it being done. Inexcusable!
One man, one nation, one travesty!

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