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 ...
Ping!
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.
“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.”
Good point.
Scary part is how close Seoul is to the North
“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?
......a North Korean diplomat denied Koreans are hungry and face imminent starvation.......
Which means that the meddling of Canadian do gooders is not appreciated
“North Korea rushes to starvation”
There’s no need to rush - socialism always provides plenty of starvation for everyone!
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.
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.
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?
As usual, the communists care more about their corrupt and failed ideology than the welfare of the very people they purport to protect.
A Zimbabwean food store. Soon, it will be an American food store under Fascist Zerobama.
History would have been changed for the better had Truman turned MacArthur loose rather than firing him.
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