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North Korea to suspend nuclear activity in exchange for food: 5 key questions

Here are five key questions on the link between food and nuclear weapons in North Korea.

5. Where does Kim Jong-un stand?

David Guttenfelder/AP
New North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang after reviewing a parade of thousands of soldiers and commemorating the 70th birthday of the late Kim Jong-il, in this Feb. 16 photo.

  • By Whitney Eulich Staff writer

This year marks the 100th anniversary of North Korea’s founding leader’s birth, Kim Il-sung. Pressure now falls on new leader Kim Jong-un to deliver enough food to the country’s 24 million hungry people for the upcoming centennial celebration.

On Dec. 17, 2011, only days before his father Kim Jong-il’s death, US and North Korean negotiators met in Beijing to discuss food aid to the largely isolated country.
North Korea acknowledged food shortages as a “burning issue” in its New Year’s policy statement this year, but emphasized that Kim Jong-un would closely follow his father’s military-first policy.

Some observers feared North Korea might try to garner support for its new leader with a nuclear or missile test, reports the Associated Press.  However, the country’s willingness to reopen discussions – and come to an agreement – on food for nuclear suspension may signal a new era of diplomacy.

Questions remain as to whether or not the recent accord will actually work, including whether North Korea will abide by all of the guarantees it made to the US.

“It’s worth giving it a try,” says David Straub, former State Department Korea desk officer, but “all the steps are readily reversible,” reports the Monitor.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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