Dear Mr. Brooks

Thank you for your message.

I hope you will be moved to make a contribution toward the purchase of more rice for my next distribution visit to North Korea in October.

To answer your questions as best I can:

There are no public opinion polls in North Korea and I do not speak the language. I believe, however, under difficult circumstances the government is trying to feed its people as best it can given the vast destruction of crops and sparse donations so far in relation to need. The rice storage in four civilian warehouses I visited on my last trip in dispersed areas, shows a uniformity of a well organized operation and distribution system. Not a kernel of rice seems to be lost. The people appear to have a "kibbutz" attitude toward their problems having been nurtured on "self reliance" all these years. Their spirits are upbeat wherever I went. Their attitude was: "we'll try to face the situation the best we can but we are grateful for all the foreign donations of food you can provide. Please bring more the next time."

Yes the government will eagerly accept foreign donations of food--rice and maize (corn) is their most desired staple. They are immensely grateful when such food is provided without strings. It is an opportunity we should not miss. I was told numerous times: "you are a good friend... a friend in need is a friend indeed."

The government is not trying to hide facts of outside help. Its publications report the arrival of ships and the role the UN and World Food Program is playing, as well as the arrival of a U.S. ship (bringing rice) the other day."

These people are facing a serious famine. A second flood has just devastated even more ground. If you are concerned, please ask your friends to join in making a contribution which will purchase rice delivered directly to hungry civilians by me on my next trip in October. I assume you have seen photos of my prior distributions on my Internet Home page.

Best regards,

Bernard Krisher

>Mr. Krisher,
>Congratulations on your marvelous work helping the North Koreans. I have been
>watching this terrible situation for many months now. Not from just a purely academic
>view. I am a United States Army Officer. Would really be interested in your views on
>the North Korean people and their current relationship with their government. Do the
>people trust that government will get them through the crisis? Will the government
>continue to let "the west" in to help the people? Is the government trying to hide facts
>concerning the outside help? Thank You. Randy Brooks