North Korea: An NGO’s Perspective
| Date | Friday, June 23, 2006 |
| Location | Longworth House Building 1116 |
Steve Linton, head of the Eugene Bell Foundation, discussed the foundation’s recent work in the DPRK. The Eugene Bell Foundation raises funds to help fight tuberculosis in North Korea, although in recent years their work has expanded to supplying many medical supplies and training to native doctors. The foundation is one of few organizations allowed access into North Korea, and their supplies are desperately needed by the approximately 5 % of the North Korean population who suffer from tuberculosis. Linton also relayed information about the current situation in North Korea, much of which remains a mystery to outsiders due to tight government control. He emphasized the importance of fluency for international visitors wishing to learn about the DPRK (a paradox, as Korean speaking visitors are usually denied access). During questioning, Linton argued that the United States has remained surprisingly unengaged in the non-military aspects the situation. Later, Linton emphasized the need to ask harder questions of international visitors to the DPRK, and spoke regretfully about the U.S government’s choice to let the international community monitor DPRK aid shipments, arguing that the policy community would have more sway in the DPRK if the United States had not turned down this option in the past. For more information, contract Michael Maughan (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))