The New York Times published an article today that said that North Korea had finally agreed to accept South Korean humanitarian aid in response to the recent flooding and tycoon damage. This is an enormous step for the North Koreans because it suggests future communication and relieved tensions with South Korea. There have been multiple attempts in the past by the South Koreans to offer aid to the North Koreans, but it was ultimately refused because the sum was too small.
North Korea accepting aid alone is a monumental step, let alone when it is from a country that they have had very high tensions with for many years. I don’t understand how a country like that could let its people suffer. It’s one thing when they are unable to help their people; it’s another thing when they refuse to help their people.
From what I have learned in school, North Korea spends the majority of its money on its military. When so many people in their country are starving I don’t understand why they wouldn’t take any humanitarian aid. All it the aid is, is free money for their people, so it isn’t like they need to take money out of their budget to accommodate these people, even though they should.
With so many people starving and not getting much help from anyone or their government, it kind of makes me appreciate our welfare and unemployment programs here in the United States. I am sometimes discouraged by it though because so many people abuse it; but if the programs and the money help to keep a lot of people off the street and starving to death, I guess it is a very good thing to have. The amount of welfare we give does actually show if someone were to travel to places like Mexico or the Caribbean in some parts. I have been there and I am always surprised by how many kids are selling things instead of being in school or something. (336)
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