Image: Tim says in the interview that North Koreans' ability to get food from the government depends on their loyalty to the Kim family.
On a recent trip to Asia, I met several of the Danish European Mission's contacts, among others Tim. It turned into more Good conversations about helping the persecuted Christians in North Koreabut first a little politics.
What is Status of the negotiations between Trump and Kim Jong-un?
The two leaders' mDestinations in Singapore, Hanoi and i the demilitarised speech area i (DMZ)between North and Southkorea has thannow not resulted in a breakthroughbut the question is, whether the meetings instead serve to develop the personalizede chemistry Between the. This canpotentiallybidrage to a nuclear disarmament agreement, as well as if USA changes negotiating position, where you only vil Demand a nuclear freeze, and not like now Total and documented dismantling of the entire landets nuclear arsenal and -program.
Safety and securitypolitical hawks i Trumps Government vil ridgeargue strongly against a such compromise, but it is clear that the President is keen to ensure a stgold Agreement, as well as He wants ift. IsraeIn and around the Palestinian Territories.
If Trump decides to such a rather spectacular compromise, many observers say it will be a major victory for North Koreawhich has been Determined to keep country nuclear program.
DThe two leaders said after the meeting in DMZthat their working groups will reRoof negotiationsno,but many north koreaobservers remains skepticale, since Kim sees nuclear weapons as a guarantee for the survival of his regime.
De tough sanctions are there however Still. On paper they seem to be effectiveFor example, China's border with North Korea is very porous, as is Russia's border with North Korea. Expecting China and Russia to comply with sanctions, is naive.
Are the sanctions affecting ordinary people?
It should be mentioned that there are exceptions to the sanctions, for example food, to prevent the population from being affected. But because North Korea is the way it is, the population is affected anyway.
Do you want to Elaborate? Does the distribution of the board depend on Food by citizens' songbun– and can you explain what songbun is?
Yes, dNorth Korean society is organized according to the songbun principleswhere din loyalty is assessed based on a number of criteria. Hshow youreancestors forexample were soldiers or landowners On the South Korean side,before or andisKorean War (1950-1953), will din character and credibilitybecome bedoubted compared to 'clean North Korean loyalty'.
Christians is considered disloyal, as they recognize a higher authority than the Kim family, and is thus lowest in the hierarchy. Then North Korean Population is, in broad strokes,insplitinto three groups: 1. De loyal, 2. De wavering and 3. De unfair.
Christians are considered disloyal as they recognize a higher authority than the Kim family, and are thus the lowest in the hierarchy
The rise of capitalism through 'grassroots markets' (jang-ma-dang)that have emerged after then public food supply at a glance bRed together inless wealthy provinces, Reduces the importance of songbuns, as people, who have made money, can bribe officials and gain access to opportunities that deres songbun not or else Enables.
RThe government's distribution of food depends on the citizens' songbun, so that citizens with the highest loyaltetGet food first. That's why many governments have stopped supporting the UN's food program in the country. Many people ask also: If North Korea has millions of dollars for their weapons development program, why doesn't the country spend the money on food instead?There were severe droughts in 2018 and the harvest will also be very poor in yearand there is no prospect of it getting any better in the next few years.
Is it an advantage that the food program supported by the Danish European Mission does not go through the government?
Yes, bypassing the government is a strategic choice, that we have consciously made, Since the food thus can reach forward tiIn the Christian and others in need with lowsongbun, Tim concludes.
Many thanks to everyone, ensuring that persecuted North Korean Christians and other people in need in North Korea can get emergency aid.
