NK Missions - The World Network for North Korea Missions

The North Korea Investigative Report

Part 3 - Famine II - Horror Stories

Many long years of famine have had devastating effects on the physical and psychological well-being of North Koreans. Stealing, cheating and lying is the norm as people struggle to survive. Also, people's digestive systems are aversely affected, as some immediately throw up after consuming meat or rice.

People desperate for food are resorting to extreme measures. Hungry souls scavenge the land for plants, seeds and tree bark. Pets are virtually non-existent. The most disturbing stories we heard were about cannibalism. Every person we asked knew of incidents in their hometowns. This famine is demonstrating Social Darwinism at its worst.

An In-Depth Look

The famine is a daily nightmare for most people in North Korea. Not only must they deal with the lack of food, but also the social ramifications of the widespread shortages.

One teenage boy said that everyone in North Korea steals, cheats and lies — all the "nice" people have died. In each town, people have daily government-assigned duties to do before they can take care of their personal responsibilities. However, the lack of food has caused many to become disgruntled and ignore the government work.

When fed meat or other foods, many North Koreans immediately throw up because their stomachs can't handle it. Even rice makes them throw up, so they are given oil to help with digestion.

In North Korea, kids were seen eating earthworms off the ground.

The worst year of the famine was reportedly in 1997. Food was so scarce that people were resorting to cannibalism. North Koreans we've spoken with said incidents of cannibalism exist in every town. The following are some of their eyewitness accounts:

One woman said that in her town, there was a man who was so hungry that he killed and ate his oldest daughter. Later a friend of one of his younger daughters was seen entering the house, but never emerging. The man began selling "soondae", or stuffed pig's intestines, but people questioned where he got the meat. Police and townspeople raided his house and found bloodstains and a pair of hands and feet lying on the floor. The father was shot soon thereafter.
A woman who killed and ate her son confessed later that she thought she was eating a chicken.
A famished father frequently complained about the small portions of allotted food he received compared to the rest of the family. He was too weak to move and would just lie down all day. His wife became fed up with him and killed him. She warned her son not to say anything, but he still disobeyed. When she found out, she confronted her son, and then took an axe and hacked him to death. She began giving meat to all the pregnant women in the city. People became suspicious as to how she got all this food. A refugee woman we talked to said she went into the mother's house and saw her wrapping up her son's head. The mother was shot as a result.

RESOURCES

Refugee Interview

"Children losing eyesight and hearing due to malnutrition..."
(from 6/26/01 interview with Korean-Chinese doctor, quicktime ) view video

"Rations stopped... all honest citizens died." (from 6/30/01 interview with NK man in his 30s)

"Chicken feed for food..." (from 6/30/01 interview with NK man in his 30s)

"People who survive..." (from 6/27/01 interview with Korean-Chinese grandma who delivers food into NK)

Audio

"Uncovering North Korea - Part 1/5" by NK Guy (Report from the North Korea Investigative Mission Trip 2001)

Articles

"The Challenge of North Korea Missions" (M. Div. thesis, David Lee)

"North Koreans Again Starving" (August 13, 2001, NK Chosun)

"North Korea hit by double whammies of drought and flood" (Oct. 1, 2001, AFP)

"Feeding North Korea" (Aug 28, 2001, Newsweek)

World Food Programme Resources

Emergency Reports (01 Aug 20, 01 Jul 13, 01 Jun 1, 01 May 11)
Assessments - pdf download (01 Jul 27, 01 Jun 7, 01 May 21)
Monthly Reports - pdf download (Jul 01, Jun 01, May 01)
more WFP resources

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