North Korea Permaculture?

A tractor in North Korea (Wikimedia)

Having lived in South Korea for two years, I have learnt a lot about North Korea. In fact, it has become a minor obsession of mine. The things I have learnt, however, I did not learn from the mainstream media. Quite opposite to what you hear on the evening news, I forward that the country is barely a threat to the outside world. Any danger that North Korea appears to pose is simply political rhetoric implemented by the Government of North Korea for the survival of the regime. Further, it is continually exaggerated and exacerbated by the US government and media.

During the recent ‘missile crisis’ life went on as usual here in South Korea. The issue was barely discussed. The South Korean people understand that the North uses words and very little else. They have very little else. This has been the situation for a long time. Any nonpartisan view of the history of the Korean War, North Korea and its relations with the outside world deem such a view accurate. I would also suggest that it takes two to tango — and the US is proficient in such a dance.

In fact, North Korea is in desperate need of help. Unfortunately, the ‘help’ that the US offers is often far from constructive. As we have seen throughout the Middle East (and many other regions of the world for that matter), you cannot liberate a people by invading and bombing their homes and infrastructure to dust. War only cripples a poor people further. And, more specifically in the North Korean situation, China and South Korea cannot afford to integrate the refugees that a political turnover would create. Imagine a sudden, mass exodus of 25 million people into South Korea and China. Likewise, imagine South Korean corporations like Hyundai and Samsung accepting the North Korean economy under the blanket of the Korean Won. My interpretation is that the US for the most part maintains North Korea as a ‘live’ enemy simply as a means to legitimize its ever-expanding (and frankly, imperial) military footholds in South Korea, Japan and Guam. Unfortunately, amidst the warmongering, the media tends to ignore the immediate suffering of the people. Human rights abuses are only highlighted as a means to defend hostility toward the North. Helping the average North Korean should be the world’s primary concern. I understand some of these statements are sweeping and potentially debatable – but my intention is to set the scene for what I will say next.

An emaciated brother & sister lie prone at Unsun kindergarten in
South Pyongyang in 1997. Picture: World Food Program

Regardless of your political stance to the issue we can all agree that first of all, before any political or military action, the people of North Korea need help. The conditions of life for the average North Korean are appalling. North Korea first and foremost needs the means to survive; a means that will withstand an aid embargo, drought or monsoon. That means food. Currently the poor survive largely on international aid and a shaky black-market with China. When an embargo is enforced they starve to death. Whilst stopping aid as a means of political pressure is something tossed about by Governments not directly affected, real people are starving and suffering through lack of food and medical care. The refusal of aid to North Korea is knowingly allowing the deaths of many, and is unacceptable, no matter if their Government is a supposed (perceived) threat. The population’s health, and in fact their lives, should not be used as a tool of political force. See the ‘arduous march’ of the 1990s when the soviet bloc fell and China likewise turned its back on the country. Some estimate three million people died in the space of 6 years. Famine however has never been far from the lives of ordinary North Koreans and similar tragedies have occurred continually during the 21st century. Their food supply is unstable at the best of times.

I suggest that only after the people can feed themselves will an environment for real political change come about. What is not often mentioned in western media is the talk of reunification being a real possibility between the North and South — not in an instant, but something of a goal to work towards over the coming years. This is positive rhetoric that I hear often from South Koreans. It is as simple as give a little, get a little. South-North Korean diplomacy over the years had demonstrated that this is the case. Unfortunately, military confrontations — often from outside of South Korea’s control — damage these relationships.

The answer, I suggest, could lie in permaculture. Permaculture is perfect for North Korea. Why? It is a gift that can be given directly to the people. The government cannot take permaculture and spend it on arms. The biggest complaint of countries that give aid to North Korea is that ‘it never gets to the people who need it’. Permaculture, however, is a tool that once given to the people cannot be taken back. Furthermore, if the individual North Korean people can reduce their dependency on the state through permaculture — that is, creating their own food supply outside of the regime’s control — their ability to challenge the government will increase. Once given to the people, permaculture needs nothing to survive. No inputs, no dependency on fertilizer from China and South Korea and no need for oil. Permaculture could give these people the means to survive without being reliant on the uncertainty of international aid. In fact the notion of self sufficiency that underpins permaculture is likewise the foundation of the North Korean ‘Juche’ philosophy.

Regardless of your political leanings and your objections to the North Korean regime, they deserve to enter the free market on their own terms. Sometimes I wish my own country was more of a hermit when it comes to signing away our assets and resources to the world market. So too have many countries around the world become slaves to those who administer the ‘free market’ upon them. By supporting a self sufficient food market within the country, permaculture may give the North Korean government the ability to enter the world community on its own terms — a right every country deserves. After all, they fought an extremely bloody war to secure this right. Until North Korea is able to enter the world community in such a mutual way it is impossible to discuss, let alone improve, human rights standards within the country. The gift of permaculture education to the Korean people may act as a catalyst for wider exchanges between North Korea and the outside world – peaceful and constructive exchanges.

So maybe you are thinking, "isn’t it impossible to go to North Korea?" That is not the case. If the North Korean Government deems something beneficial to their country the border magically opens. For instance, aid workers, journalists, engineers, diplomats, tourists, businessmen and even hikers have found their way into the hermit kingdom when their purpose was deemed useful, or even just harmless. Not to mention the massive South Korean industrial complex at Kaesong. I think that the North Korean government could be convinced to allow permaculture teachers to enter the country. However, they would need to be thoroughly swayed toward the value of permaculture and done so in a way that was diplomatically delicate and respectful. Tricky maybe, but certainly not impossible. I for one am up for giving it a crack! I think permaculture can sell itself (even to the most stalwart of communists…). And while permaculture could help North Korea, worldwide permaculture itself stands to benefit from such an exchange. If successful, North Korea could offer a highly publicized (no doubt) example of vital permaculture to the wider world (think Cuba).

What we will need is a collection of skilled people willing to join such a project. People who understand diplomacy and communication (and I suggest an understanding of Korean culture is important also); permaculture experts of course (of which I am not) – especially those with experience in climates such as North Korea; Korean translators – crucial (my beginner Korean with not suffice beyond pleasantries unfortunately); those who can source money or some sort of scholarship/funding for such a project; and no doubt other areas of expertise will be needed as well.

At present, this is no more than an idea spinning around in my head. But up there it is useless. Let’s talk about it and see what happens.