North Koreans Ask South For Rice, Heavy Equipment

From The Marmot's Hole:

11:39 PM (20 minutes ago)N. Koreans ask for rice, heavy equipmentfrom The Marmot's Hole by Robert Koehler


Hit by floods, North Korea is doing what it does best — asking the South for aid:



North Korea wants rice and materials to repair flood damage such as cement and heavy equipment from South Korea, it was said in a message Saturday. The Unification Ministry on Tuesday said the message came from the North Korean Red Cross and was sent to its South Korean counterpart after the South offered some W10 billion in flood relief (US$1=W1,179).



The North asked for rice, cement, vehicles and bulldozers if the South is willing to help. The message was a belated response to the South Korean Red Cross’s offer on Aug. 26 of emergency food supplies and medicines.



But Seoul is less keen to provide rice and building materials since such aid has been put on hold as part of sanctions after the North sank the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan since the North has a history of diverting such aid to the military. Heavy equipment, cement and iron bars proved controversial when the South gave flood aid to the North in 2006 and 2007.



The Lee Myung-bak government — which has been under pressure to resume rice aid to the North, both as a humanitarian measure and as a means to reduce rice surpluses that are killing rice prices — is reportedly leaning towards agreeing to the North’s request.



Hell, I suppose North Korean sub crews need to eat, too.



On a positive note, at least the North will release the crew of the South Korean fishing boat Daeseung-ho