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North Korea rushes to starvation
Toronto Star ^ | 12/09/09 | Olivia Ward

Posted on 12/09/2009 4:11:04 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster

North Korea rushes to starvation

December 09, 2009

Olivia Ward

North Korea's beleaguered people are used to running on empty. But a silent catastrophe that is looming in the secretive dictatorship may push the poorest beyond the point of no return.

A sudden revaluation has left the currency worthless, threatening collapse of the fragile food market.

"This could start widespread starvation deaths in the hungry season, after the last harvest runs out," said Andrew Natsios of Georgetown University, author of The Great North Korean Famine. "There are a number of alarming things happening at once, and people may not be able to cope."

North Korea announced last week it would redenominate its national currency, the won, apparently to curb inflation and crush the fledgling private markets that sprang up after 2002, when the government realized its centrally controlled food distribution system had failed.

After the announcement it said limited amounts of won could be exchanged for new currency, and that the move was necessary for building "a strong and prosperous nation." But angry Koreans were reportedly burning piles of old banknotes in protest, and soldiers had been ordered onto the streets.

The move undermined many of the private markets, which had been a runaway success, selling not only food but South Korean items such as videos that are banned by the authoritarian regime.

(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: currency; nkorea; revaluation; starvation
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1 posted on 12/09/2009 4:11:07 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo; Steel Wolf; nuconvert; MizSterious; nw_arizona_granny; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 12/09/2009 4:11:40 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster (LUV DIC -- L,U,V-shaped recession, Depression, Inflation, Collapse)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Dear Leader, his family, generals,and troops aren’t gonna starve; that’s all that matters (to them). Their utter contempt for human life is rivalled on Planet Earth only by that of the Muslim terrorists. There’s been nothing like it since Pol Pit handed in his dinner pail.


3 posted on 12/09/2009 4:17:52 AM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: TigerLikesRooster

“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.”

“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”

“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”


4 posted on 12/09/2009 4:21:25 AM PST by BlueLancer (I'm getting a fine tootsy-frootsying right here...)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
The obligatory satellite view of North Korea's darkness:


5 posted on 12/09/2009 4:40:59 AM PST by southernnorthcarolina (Now with ConstructionCam! Click on my name and follow the progress.)
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To: southernnorthcarolina

Good point.
Scary part is how close Seoul is to the North


6 posted on 12/09/2009 4:47:39 AM PST by Joe Boucher (This marxist punk has got to go.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
I don't know what is worse, the starvation that they, the North Korean people, have suffered from not having hope and basic liberties or the starvation of the body. The hunger that they face in body is the final insult to a long suffering people. Those who would ever question why American and South Korean military personnel have stood diligent guard for so long need only contemplate articles such as these.
7 posted on 12/09/2009 4:56:35 AM PST by dog breath
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To: TigerLikesRooster

“when the government realized its centrally controlled food distribution system had failed.”

But - but - - - isn’t Central Planning supposed to be wonderful, all you Socialism fans out there? Hm? Didn’t it do wonderful things for Russia? Hm?

What? The departure of motivation left the workers sleeping?

Isn’t Central Planning wonderful, all you Democrats, Liberals and Fellow Travelers? Hm? Hm Hm? Hello, Dingy Harry. Yoo-Hoo, Nancy. Barack? You there?


8 posted on 12/09/2009 5:01:38 AM PST by RoadTest (Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

......a North Korean diplomat denied Koreans are hungry and face imminent starvation.......

Which means that the meddling of Canadian do gooders is not appreciated


9 posted on 12/09/2009 5:02:10 AM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Lukenbach Texas is barely there)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

“North Korea rushes to starvation”

There’s no need to rush - socialism always provides plenty of starvation for everyone!


10 posted on 12/09/2009 5:30:48 AM PST by headsonpikes (Genocide is the highest sacrament of socialism - "Who-whom?")
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To: TigerLikesRooster

No one on the left wants to see this political, economic, and social reality. In a closed system, communism and socialism doesn’t work. Free markets and a Capitalist based system works! But they continue to stick their heads up their asses.


11 posted on 12/09/2009 5:35:50 AM PST by rbosque (11 year Freeper! Can't get rid of me Jim! Well, you can but you've put up with me so far.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

When cap and trade makes it too expensive for farmers to grow their crops eventually creating shortages,expect the ‘know it all’ federal government to nationalize the food industry placing the USA on a path to eventual starvation.


12 posted on 12/09/2009 5:40:48 AM PST by Le Chien Rouge
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To: Le Chien Rouge
Fortunately, Americans have what ordinary N. Koreans do not.


13 posted on 12/09/2009 5:45:28 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster (LUV DIC -- L,U,V-shaped recession, Depression, Inflation, Collapse)
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To: bert; All
Yeah, those do-gooders should mind their own business!
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14 posted on 12/09/2009 5:56:38 AM PST by mkjessup (Dec 9, 1941 - President Franklin D. 0bama asks Congress to adopt Japanese as our official language.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Somehow, although it is symbolic, I would vastly rather see an M4 or SKS in Heston's hand than a flintlock.
15 posted on 12/09/2009 5:57:27 AM PST by Carry_Okie (The environment is too complex and too important to manage by central planning.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
"This could start widespread starvation deaths in the hungry season, after the last harvest runs out," said Andrew Natsios of Georgetown University, author of The Great North Korean Famine

Obviously some kind of hyperpartisan rightwing radical bent on subverting the progressive agenda
16 posted on 12/09/2009 5:59:50 AM PST by chuck_the_tv_out ( <<< click my name: now featuring Freeper classifieds)
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To: chuck_the_tv_out

Let’s feed the world by sending the NOKOs some of the boony Gore Carbon Credits! All the NOKOs need is to start some gardens in the open spaces between their Soviet era high rise slums....it worked in BO’s ChiTown and in MO’s WH garden, right?


17 posted on 12/09/2009 6:04:31 AM PST by iopscusa (El Vaquero. (SC Lowcountry Cowboy))
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To: TigerLikesRooster

As usual, the communists care more about their corrupt and failed ideology than the welfare of the very people they purport to protect.


18 posted on 12/09/2009 6:05:51 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (Socialism is hip until somebody loses a paycheck)
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To: Le Chien Rouge

A Zimbabwean food store. Soon, it will be an American food store under Fascist Zerobama.

19 posted on 12/09/2009 6:28:41 AM PST by myknowledge (F-22 Raptor: World's Largest Distributor of Sukhoi parts!)
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To: southernnorthcarolina

History would have been changed for the better had Truman turned MacArthur loose rather than firing him.


20 posted on 12/09/2009 6:35:09 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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