North Korean Foreign Aid.

[needawin]

How many taxpayers in the UK knew that the Conservative Government led by Theresa May gave overseas aid cash to North Korea.
This was accidentally let out at the tv interview on BBC last week but the subject was changed very quickly.

[youngmafbog]

This has been known for some time.

Do you live under a rock?

[cassa333]

It isn't new and it isn't beyond the realms of possibility either.

We give to an awful lot of regimes that either don't need it or don't 'deserve ' it.

In fact if you look at the statements made by Corbyn he would likely be in the pocket of the NK regime and many others that have very unsavoury aspects.

What I think should be looked at is the foreign aid budget in its entirety and where it goes etc.

[needawin]

Maybe I do live under a rock but it's pretty crowded here. Hands up all who knew they were funding North Korea!

[fiction-factory]

Yes, 4 million pounds was mentioned. I'd like to know what it was for- seems odd- but as this is only 0.03% of the annual foreign aid spend we should also look at where the other 99.97% goes

[naomi24]

The last Labour government gave money to North Korea too.

As far as I'm aware it wasn't accidentally 'let out' - David Dimbleby mentioned it to Theresa May on the Leaders' Debate last week, and it's on the government website.

The Mission Statement reads //We develop and maintain relations between the UK and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Our policy is one of critical engagement - making clear the views of the UK and the international community on the DPRK’s nuclear weapons programme and proliferation activities and on its human rights record. We encourage the DPRK to understand and work with the outside world through educational and cultural exchanges.//

[THECORBYLOON]

Four million pounds is the total amount over the last six years.

[THECORBYLOON]

The question about it was asked by a member of the audience, not Dimbleby.

[anneasquith]

Whatever the amount and for how long TM appeared to be unaware of it .

[naomi24]

THECORBYLOON, I know a member of the audience asked about foreign aid, but I thought Dimbleby mentioned the aid to North Korea. Anyway, it matters not.

[naomi24]

anneasquith, I don't think she was unaware of it - she just couldn't say precisely how much is given.

[anneasquith]

Whatever you say Naomi.

[-Talbot-]

The audience member said we gave 4 million in 2015.
Why didn't he his homework before asking the question?


When asked if NK is receiving money from the aide budget Theresa May said.
''The gentle suggests it is''

Which suggests she didn't know.

[TWR]

Good old UK.

[naomi24]

Talbot, I listened to that bit again and you're right, and so was anneasquith.

[anneasquith]

Fact check ?

[naomi24]

Pardon?

[Kromovaracun]

One does sometimes wonder if the Foreign Aid budget is in practice the "leverage budget" that UK organisations use to gain influence with elites in other countries.

[ToraToraTora]

we have been funding all manner of other countries under both labour and tory governments. Nothing new.

[youngmafbog]

I suspect you are right Krom.

[ToraToraTora]

anyway we've been paying the EU a billion a month for gawd knows how long, now that's serious "foriegn aid"!