经济学人下载:朝鲜的饥荒,让他们吃玉米皮

Stephan Haggard and Marcus Noland, both at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, DC, say that even though the WFP has overstated the case, “all indicators point to a deteriorating food-security situation”. What is more, they take issue with Mr Lee’s belief that withholding aid will temper the North’s behaviour. Rather, they argue, the response will merely be for the hermit kingdom to “hunker down and tighten repression”. The regime has been consistent chiefly in showing complete disregard for its people.

华盛顿彼得森国际经济研究所（Peterson Institute for International Economics）的斯蒂芬·哈格德（Stephan Haggard）和马库斯·诺兰（ Marcus Noland）称，即便世界粮食组织高估了情况，“所有迹象表明一种粮食安全情况正在恶化”。此外，他们反对李明博“扣留援助将软化朝鲜行为”的观点。他们甚至认为，神秘王国（朝鲜）的反应不过是“顽固坚持、加强镇压”。朝鲜政权大体上一直漠视它的人民。

But arguing is pointless. Widespread malnutrition and starvation in at least some parts of the country is a reality in North Korea. For Jimmy Carter, the former American president, who visited Pyongyang recently, the fault lies mainly with South Korea and the United States. That is presumably tonic to the real culprit for the hunger, the chubby Dear Leader, Kim Jong Il.

但是，争论毫无意义。至少在朝鲜部分地区存在普遍的营养不良和饥荒，这是现实。最近访问过平壤的美国前总统吉米·卡特认为，错误在韩国和美国一边。这一消息对饥荒背后真正的罪犯——圆胖的亲爱领袖金正日——而言，大概是一剂补药。