ID :
181842
Fri, 05/13/2011 - 01:31
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/181842
The shortlink copeid
U.S. denies reports of Amb. King's North Korean trip
WASHINGTON, May 12 (Yonhap) -- The State Department Thursday denied reports that the U.S. point man on North Korean human rights issues will soon visit Pyongyang.
Robert King, U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, has not yet been admitted into the reclusive North since his appointment in early 2009. He would be addressing human rights and food aid there.
"I don't have any announcement in terms of Ambassador King's travel," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "I can see if I can get any details on that. I have nothing to announce in terms of food aid or travel."
Neither King's predecessor, Jay Lefkowitz, nor Marzuki Darusman, the U.N.'s special rapporteur on North Korean human rights, or his predecessor, Vitit Muntarbhorn, were admitted to North Korea.
The envoy said last month that Washington has not yet made any decision on food aid to North Korea, repeating the U.S. position: "Humanitarian assistance is provided on the basis of need and available resources and the ability to monitor. Our decision on food aid is based on humanitarian needs, not on political considerations."
North Korea recently appealed for the U.S. to resume food aid, suspended two years ago over a lack of transparency in the distribution and the mounting tensions after the North's nuclear and missile tests.
The Venerable Pomnyun, chairman of the Peace Foundation and Good Friends, a relief organization, denounced Washington for having suspended food aid on political grounds.
"Every time the U.S. suspended food aid to North Korea, politics was involved," Pomnyun said recently. "The U.S. government has taken up monitoring or whatever issues whenever it suspended food aid to the North after relations were aggravated, although the aid is supposed to be made on humanitarian grounds."
Seoul and Washington, the two biggest food donors to the impoverished North, have discussed possible food aid to North Korea, which is suffering from severe food shortages due to flooding and a harsh winter, but have yet to reach a conclusion.
King has said that the U.S. will consult South Korea closely in making any decision on the food aid to North Korea, but added, "I think the United States can make an independent decision" from South Korea.
Washington reportedly is more positive on the food aid than reluctant South Korea.
South Korean conservatives say North Korea is exaggerating its food shortages to hoard food in preparation for its distribution on the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late leader, Kim Il-sung, the father of current leader, Kim Jong-il, which falls on April 15 next year.
"There are some people who are concerned that this is not an emergency, North Korea needs to make some changes in its agricultural system, and that this is not just for short-term emergency needs," King said.
The United Nations last month appealed for the provision of 430,000 tons of food to North Korea to feed 6 million people stricken by floods and severe winter weather. A U.N. monitoring team concluded a fact-finding mission in North Korea early last month.
Robert King, U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, has not yet been admitted into the reclusive North since his appointment in early 2009. He would be addressing human rights and food aid there.
"I don't have any announcement in terms of Ambassador King's travel," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "I can see if I can get any details on that. I have nothing to announce in terms of food aid or travel."
Neither King's predecessor, Jay Lefkowitz, nor Marzuki Darusman, the U.N.'s special rapporteur on North Korean human rights, or his predecessor, Vitit Muntarbhorn, were admitted to North Korea.
The envoy said last month that Washington has not yet made any decision on food aid to North Korea, repeating the U.S. position: "Humanitarian assistance is provided on the basis of need and available resources and the ability to monitor. Our decision on food aid is based on humanitarian needs, not on political considerations."
North Korea recently appealed for the U.S. to resume food aid, suspended two years ago over a lack of transparency in the distribution and the mounting tensions after the North's nuclear and missile tests.
The Venerable Pomnyun, chairman of the Peace Foundation and Good Friends, a relief organization, denounced Washington for having suspended food aid on political grounds.
"Every time the U.S. suspended food aid to North Korea, politics was involved," Pomnyun said recently. "The U.S. government has taken up monitoring or whatever issues whenever it suspended food aid to the North after relations were aggravated, although the aid is supposed to be made on humanitarian grounds."
Seoul and Washington, the two biggest food donors to the impoverished North, have discussed possible food aid to North Korea, which is suffering from severe food shortages due to flooding and a harsh winter, but have yet to reach a conclusion.
King has said that the U.S. will consult South Korea closely in making any decision on the food aid to North Korea, but added, "I think the United States can make an independent decision" from South Korea.
Washington reportedly is more positive on the food aid than reluctant South Korea.
South Korean conservatives say North Korea is exaggerating its food shortages to hoard food in preparation for its distribution on the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late leader, Kim Il-sung, the father of current leader, Kim Jong-il, which falls on April 15 next year.
"There are some people who are concerned that this is not an emergency, North Korea needs to make some changes in its agricultural system, and that this is not just for short-term emergency needs," King said.
The United Nations last month appealed for the provision of 430,000 tons of food to North Korea to feed 6 million people stricken by floods and severe winter weather. A U.N. monitoring team concluded a fact-finding mission in North Korea early last month.
