I say potato, you say kam-ja - DPRK Ambassador visits MCC, tours local farms

Mennonite Central Committee
Saturday, 15 July 2000

"This century has brought a reduction of barriers between countries," acknowledged Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) executive director Ron Mathies to Li Hyong Chol, ambassador from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the U.N.

July 5 marked the first time that MCC offices in Akron hosted an ambassador from North Korea, a country long presented as an enemy of the United States.

Alice Andrews, East Asia program coordinator for the American Friends Service Committe (AFSC), Ambassador Li and a Counselor from the embassy joined MCC staff to discuss MCC relations with North Korea and to learn about local agriculture. "I hope that we can talk as friends and explore what cooperation is available," said Ambassador Li that morning.

His specific interest is in potato production. Potato farms have been a DPRK government priority for a number of years, and farmers are trying to adapt potato cultivation to the conditions on state-run farms there. Ambassador Li affirms that potatoes are a particularly valuable crop; Koreans generally use potatoes to make noodles and soup. The farming background and expertise of MCC constituency are of interest to him.

Kevin King, material resources manager for MCC, took the visitors on a tour of his family's farms in Cochranville, Pa. The King farms produce an average of 810 metric tons/900 tons of potatoes each year.

As the group toured different sections of the farms, they discussed potato varieties, seed prices, pesticides, equipment, storage and crop rotation. The ambassador said that the North Korean government is interested in improving seed quality and farming methods, as well as the best ways to combat viruses and insects.

The group discussed the need to modify some of the techniques used by Pennsylvania farmers. Large machinery that the Kings operate, for example, would be impractical in North Korea, where fuel and energy shortages are common.

The Kings encouraged the ambassador to return during planting and processing stages. The AFSC and MCC, along with the DPRK Academy of Agricultural Sciences, are hoping to be able to host two delegations this fall that will focus on farming -- one on potato processing and one on green manures. They hope to involve North Korean farmers as well as scientists and academics.

Since 1996, MCC has been assisting organizations in North Korea in cooperation with AFSC, the Canadian FoodGrains Bank, and CARITAS, a partner organization in Hong Kong. Contributions, mainly in the form of canned meat, farming equipment, grain, clothing and comforters, have totaled $8.9 million Cdn./$6 million U.S.

"In the process of our work, we can talk about how and why the supplies are going to the DPRK. It's a good way for people in our constituency to learn about North Korea," explained Betsy Headrick McCrae, MCC East Asia director.

"We did know that assistance was coming in through different channels," responded Ambassador Li, "but frankly speaking, I didn't know MCC was helping so much." The ambassador then spoke about Korea's history and how 2 million Koreans lost their lives due to war during 1950 to 1953. "We desire peace, so in that sense we share our values," he said.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org