North Korea in 1995

A socialist republic of northeastern Asia on the northern half of the peninsula of Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) borders the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the Republic of Korea at roughly the 38th parallel. Area: 122,762 sq km (47,399 sq mi). Pop. (1995 est.): 23,487,000. Cap.: Pyongyang. Monetary unit: won, with (Oct. 6, 1995) a free rate of 2.15 won to U.S. $1 (3.40 won = £ 1 sterling). President in 1995, Kim Jong Il (designated); chairman of the Council of Ministers (premier), Kang Song San.

Severe flooding aggravated North Korea’s food shortages in 1995. Heavy rains and a typhoon during the summer reportedly affected five million people, nearly a quarter of the population. The government made a rare appeal for foreign assistance, asking for food and clothing. A UN team visiting the North reported that 1.9 million tons of crops had been lost and that many irrigation systems had been damaged.

Pyongyang had earlier asked for emergency food aid to cover a projected harvest shortfall. Japan contributed 300,000 tons of rice and South Korea 150,000 tons. For several years defectors and visitors had spoken of shortages, of official exhortations to eat only twice a day, and even of food riots. In December the UN World Food Programme warned of the possibility of widespread famine.

In January the U.S. sent 50,000 tons of fuel oil to help generate electricity, part of a 1994 agreement to end an international dispute over North Korea’s suspected nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang pledged to freeze all its projects, which involved operation of a five-megawatt nuclear plant and construction of two others. In exchange, the U.S. promised to arrange for North Korea to acquire two modern nuclear power reactors worth over $4 billion. Throughout the year the two sides haggled over details implementing the agreement, with the North periodically threatening to restart its nuclear program if concessions were not granted. The main sticking point seemed to be U.S. insistence that the reactors come from South Korea. An agreement calling for contributions from Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. was finally signed on December 15.

During the year North Korea and the U.S. made cautious moves toward ending their long enmity. The U.S. lifted its trade embargo, and the first investment mission visited the country in February. As part of the October 1994 accord, the two sides agreed to move toward establishing some kind of informal relationship, probably in the form of liaison-level offices in each other’s capital.

Pyongyang had reportedly even dropped its opposition to the stationing of U.S. troops in South Korea. This was seen as part of a yearlong effort by North Korea to undo the Panmunjon peace arrangements and sign a formal peace treaty with the U.S. Washington insisted that Pyongyang first make peace with the south.

The status of Kim Jong Il, son and successor of the late dictator Kim Il Sung, continued to cast a cloud over North Korean affairs. Several auspicious dates passed without the younger Kim’s assuming the vacant titles of president and secretary-general of the Korean Workers’ (communist) Party. He was seen in public only rarely. Most analysts, however, believed that Kim Jong Il was in charge and was slowly but carefully consolidating his power. In October he promoted army Chief of Staff Gen. Choe Gwang to defense minister. He replaced Marshal O Jin U, an influential Kim supporter who had died in February. Also in October, a 10.7-m (35-ft) granite monument of Kim Jong Il was unveiled in Pyongyang.

This updates the article Korea, North, history of.

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