North Korea: A Matter of Survival: The North Korean Government’s Control of Food and the Risk of Hunger

North Korea: A Matter of Survival: The North Korean Government’s Control of Food and the Risk of Hunger

A Matter of Survival
The North Korean Government’s Control of Food and the Risk of Hunger

Related Material North Korea: Policy Changes May Foster New Hunger Press Release, May 4, 2006Download PDF file of this report (277 Kb, 36 pages)  Download PDF of report with cover (677 Kb, 38 pages) Download PDF file of this report in Korean (340 Kb, 34 pages)  Download PDF of report in Korean with cover (703 Kb, 36 pages) Purchase a printed version of this report More on Human Rights Watch's work on North Korea

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Past Problems of Famine and Hunger

Food Aid
Private Food Trade

IV. Current Food Conditions
V. The Impact of the Public Distribution System, the Ban on the Private Trade of Grain, and the Halting of Emergency Food Aid by WFP

The PDS
The Ban on the Private Trade of Grain
Limits on WFP and Other Food Providers

VI. North Korea’s Obligation Under International Human Rights Covenants

The Right to Food
Freedom of Movement

VII. Recommendations

To the North Korean government
To the South Korean government
To the Chinese government
To the International Community

Appendix

Amount of food rations under old ration system
North Korea’s grain production
Food aid to North Korea by the international community, including China and South Korea

May 2006   Volume 18, No. 3(C)