This year marks the 100th anniversary of North Korea鈥檚 founding leader鈥檚 birth, Kim Il-sung. Pressure now falls on new leader Kim Jong-un to deliver enough food to the country鈥檚 24 million hungry people for the upcoming centennial celebration.
On Dec. 17, 2011, only days before his father Kim Jong-il鈥檚 death, US and North Korean negotiators met in Beijing to discuss food aid to the largely isolated country.
North Korea acknowledged food shortages as a 鈥渂urning issue鈥� in its New Year鈥檚 policy statement this year, but emphasized that Kim Jong-un would closely follow his father鈥檚 military-first policy.
Some observers feared North Korea might , reports the Associated Press. However, the country鈥檚 willingness to reopen discussions 鈥� and come to an agreement 鈥� on food for nuclear suspension may signal a new era of diplomacy.
Questions remain as to whether or not the recent accord will actually work, including whether North Korea will abide by all of the guarantees it made to the US.
鈥�It鈥檚 worth giving it a try,鈥� says David Straub, former State Department Korea desk officer, but 鈥渁ll the steps are readily reversible,鈥� reports the Monitor.
