Body
We earlier provided a preview of the Elders visit to Pyongyang; now the group has released a short press statement concerning the current road trip of Jimmy Carter, Martti Ahtisaari, Gro Brundtland and Mary Robinson to Beijing, Pyongyang and Seoul, which began on Sunday and runs through April 29. We were particularly interested in the short blurbs provided by the women: Gro Brundtland, three-time Social Democratic Prime Minister of Norway and former Director-General of the UN's World Health Organisation; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Brundtland expresses concern about the food shortage, but also says “we want to discuss longer-term food security and health issues that are so important to economic development.” Robinson explicitly notes North Korea’s obligations: “All governments have an obligation to prioritise the wellbeing of their own people, especially when resources are scarce. Ensuring there is 'human security,' including access to adequate food, is a basic right of all peoples and a requirement on the part of their governments.”
Sounds right to us, but some deliverables would be nice. Like bringing home imprisoned Korean-American businessman Jun Young Su, reportedly charged with spreading Christianity.
