  Reuters-- urlLink U.S. Pledges 50,000 Tons of Food to North Korea . Part of me thinks this is a necessary action to prevent a human catastrophe on the Korean Penninsula.
The other part of me thinks that this only props up the NK regime longer so it can continue its repression and weaponization. This has always been the problem I've had with "engagement" as a policy towards openly belligerent states. Since engagement means essentially nothing more than the influx of American money/aid, it presents the distinct risk of doing nothing more than permitting the enemy state to cement its power base. I mean, I understand the economic necessity of trading with China--but there's not a whole of evidence that China's slouching towards a more free-market system is doing anything to solve the political and religious oppression in the country. Instead, all it's doing is providing the ChiComs with more capital by which any pro-democracy forces' bargaining powers are dramatically reduced and cementing the ChiComs power. It's the reason I'm against lifting the embargo against Cuba since merely giving Castro more money with which he can oppress his people doesn't strike me as a great idea.
After all, Cuba currently has access to the entire rest of the world's capital and it is STILL an oppressive shithole--how the magical tonic of AMERICAN capital help? I don't think it will. Such are my concerns with North Korea. 
