A Troubled Legacy: UN Engagement in North Korea
ECONOMICS, HUMAN RIGHTS, SECURITY, DIPLOMACY, HOMELAND SECURITY & TERRORISM
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Last week, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) began delivering 500 tons of food assistance to North Korea. The much needed assistance comes against the backdrop of a long and troubled history of UN engagement in the country.
In April 2007, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) denied allegations that it had transferred dual-use technology to Pyongyang. A UNDP spokesman explained, “There have been some rice husk removers transferred and a plotter to help the [North Korean] authorities more accurately produce maps for environmental monitoring.” Upon closer examination, however, the UNDP’s material transfers were far from benign. A report issued in May of this year reveals that the organization shipped 95 items prohibited by the U.S. for “national security and anti-terrorism reasons.”
In addition to material transfers, dubious financial transactions have also been reported. The UNDP testified to the U.S. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations that it had transferred no more than $380,000 to the North Korean government via its National Coordinating Committee (NCC). A later report revealed that at least $9.13 million was directly transferred to the NCC, which was later distributed to eleven different agencies in Kim Jong Il’s government. The report also describes how the UNDP was used to launder $2.72 million to a Chinese company. It remains unclear whether the money came from the UNDP or if the organization was merely used as a vehicle for transferring North Korean funds. Investigators have yet to discover precisely how the money was spent.
The UNDP’s misadventures in North Korea transpired within the context of one of the world’s most delicate political standoffs. As the United States eases pressure on North Korea—Washington plans to drop its designation of Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism—the political ramifications of the UN’s involvement remain important. Food security in North Korea is a policy priority for both Washington and Pyongyang. Both countries now face the rare circumstance of sharing a common goal. In light of this, the UN will need to ensure that food aid is distributed in a transparent and accountable way. The troubled legacy of former UN programs should be replaced with actions that pave the way for a durable détente.
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