Richard Bruton
Question:16 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position the Government has taken in relation to the ongoing political situation and chronic shortage of food in North Korea. [4259/98]
Written Answers - Food Shortage in North Korea.
Billy Timmins
Question:60 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to set up diplomatic relations with North Korea. [4320/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 60 together.
The Government remains firmly of the view that the current four party talks process currently under way, involving the two parts of Korea with the US and China, offers the best prospect for a lasting peace settlement in the Korean peninsula. However, unreasonable demands and extreme positions taken by the North Korean side frequently threaten the success of these talks, the next session of which is due to take place in Geneva in the coming month.
The serious food shortages which have arisen in North Korea in recent years have implications for the political and economic stability of the entire peninsula. I am pleased to say, however, that the exceptional effort made by the international community over the past year has been largely successful in averting the threat of famine. In this context, the Government has contributed a total of £815,000 in humanitarian assistance to North Korea so far.
A technical mission from the Department of Foreign Affairs travelled to North Korea last November to evaluate the impact of humanitarian assistance from Ireland. Its findings were encouraging in that no evidence of famine was found, although malnutrition and infrastructural collapse did appear to be widespread. A reduced harvest towards the end of last year means that large amounts of food aid will again be required in 1998. However, it is also clear that serious structural problems in the agricultural and other sectors of the economy need to be addressed by the Government of North Korea if there is to be a measure of food security in future.
Due to the positive response of the international community to appeals for assistance in 1997, food supplies should be available until early May of this year. We are ready to respond to basic humanitarian needs again this year and are awaiting the outcome of the most recent needs assessments being carried out by the UN agencies and the EU. The Government has no plans to establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Korea at present.