The European Union announced last week the resumption of emergency food aid to North Korea. This decision follows a recent survey visit to North Korea by EU officials to evaluate the severity of the food deficit widely reported by international aid organizations in the country. The commitment of food aid to North Korea is contingent upon it allowing EU and World Food Program officials to monitor distribution. Japanese officials told Newsmax on Monday of their strong opposition to providing the aid without a clear improvement in North Korea’s behavior on the world stage and noted that Tokyo is unlikely to follow suit.

Analysis:

The decision by the EU to resume food aid to North Korea will increase pressure on the United States and other states including South Korea to restart food aid to Pyongyang despite the North Korean shelling of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong island last November and the sinking of the South Korean naval ship Cheonan in March 2010. The U.S. recently concluded its own fact-finding visit to North Korea to evaluate the food situation.

North Korea has on several occasions moderated its behavior to win commitments for international aid but soon after returns to rogue-like behavior. North Korea also routinely diverts international food aid from at-risk women and children to the military and to earn illicit profits on the black market.

[Carolyn Leddy held senior positions with the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council under the George W. Bush administration. Fred Fleitz is a former CIA analyst and chief of staff to Ambassador John Bolton.]