Caritas on North Korea: Unified, Willing to

UNCLAS VATICAN 003436

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EAP/K

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID EAGR ETRD KN VT
SUBJECT: Caritas on North Korea: Unified, Willing to
"Fight to the Last Drop" of Blood, But Still Hungry

REF: 02 VATICAN 3637

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Summary
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1. (u) Catholic Church relief network Caritas works with
the people of North Korea to combat poverty and
malnutrition. Post recently met with Kathi Zellweger, who
oversees Caritas' operations in North Korea and who spends
considerable time there, to review developments in that
country. Zellweger reported that: (1) the firmly unified
North Korean populace shows no indication of challenging
its government; (2) the people believe attack by the United
States is imminent and unavoidable; (3) the government is
increasingly willing to experiment with capitalism; and (4)
food availability in the DPRK has increased but is
irregular. End summary.

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North Koreans "will fight to the last drop" of blood
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2. (u) "Unity is high," Zellweger said, and North Koreans
"will fight to the last drop" of blood for their nation.
The Chong-il regime will continue for many more years, she
believes, even as it sacrifices millions of lives through
poverty, malnutrition, and repression. Communist
indoctrination in North Korea has been exhaustive. With
most North Koreans having grown up under Communism and
without exposure to any other way of life (even cut off
from Western television),the relatively high levels of
education and literacy have failed to generate any youth
movements for change.

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North Koreans Believe U.S. Attack Imminent
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3. (u) Based on their reading of U.S. involvement in Iraq,
as presented by state news agencies, the people of the DPRK
are convinced, according to Zellweger, that attack by the
United States is imminent. The invasion of Iraq even after
inspectors were admitted, the "dubious" justifications for
that war, and the classification of North Korea as a member
of the "axis of evil" have made many North Koreans believe
they are next in line for American-imposed regime change.
The people of North Korea feel doomed, Zellweger added.
The commitment to fight against any aggressor has been
fueled by DPRK indoctrination, starvation, poverty, and an
unprecedented sense of unity.

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Special Economic Zones and Capitalism
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4. (u) Although North Korea has established a special
economic zone in the northeast region of Rajin-Sonbong to
develop trade relations with Russia, Japan, and China,
Zellweger believes this has largely failed. Business
leaders from China, the most promising trade partner, avoid
the inconvenient and uncomfortable trip into the region.
As a result, the North Koreans are hoping that a planned
second special region closer to the border with China and
along the train route to Beijing will have more success.
While it expounds communist theory, the DPRK regime is
increasingly willing to experiment with limited and
controlled elements of a market system. Twelve months ago,
prices were set for certain goods and services previously
provided by the State. Zellweger has noticed that the
expanded use of a monetary system to pay for goods and
services (as opposed to government handouts) has given rise
to a more price-conscious public. She hears complaints
that goods are overpriced and unaffordable. She said that
with the movement towards some basic market mechanisms, the
people appear increasingly interested in planning and
dreaming of a better future that could even include
tourism.

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Hunger Update
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5.(u) In this fiftieth year of the divided Korean
peninsula, circumstances in North Korea remain grim,
Zellweger said. Although food availability has increased
and acute malnutrition has decreased since the crest of the
crisis in 1995-1997, North Korea is still heavily dependent
on international food aid. The recent WFP announcement of


food aid cuts to North Korea will affect some three million
of the country's current 6.4 million beneficiaries. The
most pressing humanitarian problem is the shortage of food.
Cereals, pulses, soymilk, sugar, and cooking oil are
desperately needed before the year is up. Contributing to
the problem is the lag time between donation and delivery.
Food donations typically take six months to reach
recipients, Zellweger pointed out.

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Caritas in North Korea
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6. (u) Caritas is permitted extended visits to North Korea
and relatively unrestricted contact with the people. It
has regular access to 162 of North Korea's 260 counties,
encompassing 85 percent of the DPRK's population.
Zellweger has documented living conditions during many of
her visits to the country. The films have been edited into
a six-and-a-half-minute video. Zellweger agreed to provide
a copy to Post.

7.(u) Caritas works in North Korea to increase the
number of people fed, maximize the nutritional value of
food provided, and realize their "helping people to help
themselves" principle. To these ends, Caritas has
developed two new initiatives: (1) fish farming and fish
egg distribution and (2) sweet potato harvesting and
nutritional fortification. Both plans, as well as Caritas'
seed distribution program, aim to cultivate self-
sufficiency and combat starvation.

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Comment
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8.(sbu) Zellweger is a significant source of information
on North Korea, as her access allows for a rare view into
o
conditions throughout the DPRK. Zellweger's main message
for the USG is to "send more food." Zellweger seems
relatively optimistic that economic engagement will
contribute significantly to North Korea in time opening up
to the West as well as helping to achieve better living
conditions for its longsuffering people. End comment.

Nicholson
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2003VATICA03436 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED