Return to Korea 2: What to do about North Korea?

From Carnegie Endowment

 SEOUL, 6 July 2014 - This blog has treated North Korea twice: first here, and then here. Those were tense times, in the U.S. mindset at least, thanks to Fox and CNN, with their ads to sell and market share to raise. 

Meanwhile, North Korea, its Juche ideology and its never-ending all-in-the-family cult of personality parade without pause, making the news with the occasional missile advancement, and Dennis Rodman visits.

IBITimes

Let us be clear. North Korea is not a Hermit Kingdom, nor is it a "failed state." It is a grim place to visit or to live, little doubt. North Korea has removed itself from the the dialogue tables frequented by South Korea and the USA (or is it that all sides have done the removing?), so one is tempted to J'accuse! the N.K. leadership of a facile culpability for its ills.

People of good will may dispute this, so I shall stop there with that point.  

What can one do about North Korea? Now? If one is concerned how the price of North Korea's existence is paid by its most vulnerable citizens, as I am, one may get involved with two of many aid groups to those vulnerable people.

1. In Black Mountain, NC, Christian Friends of Korea began in 1995 as the famines and the abject suffering of the nation emerged as regular news items. This organization specializes in food, agricultural and medical aid. 

2. In Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada), a former student of mine in Korea, Susan Ritchie, founded and now directs First Steps. This morning she visited the church I attend in Seoul, where we had a joyous and surprising reunion. First Steps focuses upon child nutrition. 

Susan Ritchie with this blogger, 6 July 2014.

I know the people in both organizations, and trust them in all matters. Their members are Korean-fluent, and utterly dedicated to their work.

As you consider Korea with me, help me remember all of Korea.

Yours in unification,
Marc

PS: In the preparation of this blog, I happened upon many blocked websites, censored by the South Korean side. Here is the message I received at least 5 times.