The Word of the Week is RICE

I have not been able to tune in to any news outlet in the past week without hearing about the rise in rice prices and the potential devastating effects a rice shortage has already put into motion. Already there have been riots in Haiti and a restriction of rice exports by Vietnam and India. With the focus centered on how the rising cost of rice will cripple impoverished people worldwide, I immediately wondered if South Korea may readjust their recent attitude toward North Korea in order to mitigate more starvation of their neighbors. The Korean Times published an article today explaining President Lee's swift actions to stave off potential hunger in the North. Part of the strategy for increasing production and food security includes storing grain in Russia's Far East and leasing land in Southeast Asia for possible simultaneous 2 or 3 crop production.