Source: Korea Herald
Country: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
President Kim Young-sam said
yesterday that he cannot rule out the possibility that North Korea diverted
part of the
rice it received from South Korea in 1995 for military use.
''The North's food shortage problem is so serious that even its soldiers are not being fed properly,'' Kim said during a
visit to an air base. Kim visited the air base ahead of the June 25 anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.
''There is no guarantee that part of the rice aid we donated didn't go to the military,'' he said.
Kim was referring to the 150,000 tons of rice aid South Korea gave to North Korea in 1995. ''The North is spending
an enormous amount of money on its military and continuing to beef up its armed forces,'' the President said. He said that
the North's food problems result not from the recent floods but from its faulty farm structure, including the operation of
collective farms.
Kim called on the South Korean military to maintain a flawless defense posture against possible North Korean
provocation. ''We should be fully prepared and remain alert,'' he said. The President called for the development of
Korean aircraft for training Air Force pilots.
That would raise the level of the country's defense capability and the aerospace industry, he said.
Copyright 1997 Korea Herald. All rights reserved.
rice it received from South Korea in 1995 for military use.
''The North's food shortage problem is so serious that even its soldiers are not being fed properly,'' Kim said during a
visit to an air base. Kim visited the air base ahead of the June 25 anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.
''There is no guarantee that part of the rice aid we donated didn't go to the military,'' he said.
Kim was referring to the 150,000 tons of rice aid South Korea gave to North Korea in 1995. ''The North is spending
an enormous amount of money on its military and continuing to beef up its armed forces,'' the President said. He said that
the North's food problems result not from the recent floods but from its faulty farm structure, including the operation of
collective farms.
Kim called on the South Korean military to maintain a flawless defense posture against possible North Korean
provocation. ''We should be fully prepared and remain alert,'' he said. The President called for the development of
Korean aircraft for training Air Force pilots.
That would raise the level of the country's defense capability and the aerospace industry, he said.
Copyright 1997 Korea Herald. All rights reserved.