Cases of avian flu have appeared in North Korea. The media there noted that a couple of poultry facilities in Pyongyang some time ago, and since the reports come quite some time since the outbreak occurred it is very likely that the problem has spread. To feed its population the government there makes a concentrated effort at the state-level to raise chicken, so if it cannot supply chicken meat the problem could lead to a food shortage. It is unprecedented to have the media continue with reports of something of that nature.
Seoul is right to announce it will be helping the North fight the problem with Southern equipment and technology. Pyongyang needs to accept that offer of support like it did after the Ryongchon train station disaster in April of last year, so that it can stop the spread of avian flu as quickly as possible. Of course the South also needs to be careful about the disease and strengthen quarantine and preventive efforts for the people and automobiles traveling to Kaesong and Kumgangsan. There is little choice available but to continue to prohibit all imports of North Korean poultry products. The South still has fresh memories of the bird flu outbreak that began in North Chungbuk and spread across the country at the end of 2003
Now is the time to take the opportunity to find organized ways for North and South to work together in responding to the natural and other disasters that affect the Korean peninsula. The damage from typhoons, floods, droughts, and contagious diseases grows easily if not dealt with while treating the whole of the peninsula as one unit. It would be better for the North as well to cooperate with the South on such matters instead of hiding them or trying to face them alone. By working together the North would also enjoy the effect of an improvement in its international image.
Something else confirmed by this development is the need to reopen intra-Korean contact at the soonest date possible, it having been all but nonexistent since the middle of last year. There are more than a few things like this that both sides need to cooperate on. Even if issues of serious disagreement are tabled temporarily there needs to be official contact in order to find things to work on together for mutual benefit. One hopes to see contact with the goal of preventing the spread of avail flu and a smooth reopening of other formats of intra-Korean dialogue.
The Hankyoreh, 29 March 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Avian Flu in North Korea and Intra-Korean Cooperation |
