SEOUL - NORTH KOREA is pleading for food aid even from some of the world's poorest nations such as Zimbabwe, a report said on Tuesday, amid suspicion the aid may be used to boost the regime's political standing.
JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, citing a Seoul diplomatic source, said the communist North sought food not only from the United States and Europe but also from poor African countries.
'Now they are begging for food even from the world's poorest countries in Africa such as Zimbabwe where annual per-capita income is only around US$200 (S$253),' said the source quoted by JoongAng.
Pyongyang officials stressed to visiting officials a 'dire' and 'urgent' need for aid, but diplomats based in the North were relatively upbeat about the recent food situation, it said.
'Western countries have started to suspect that the North was begging for food because of internal political campaigns... rather than a genuine need for food,' the source was quoted as saying.
Food production in the impoverished country actually increased last year, South Korea's foreign minister said last week, citing a report by UN food agencies. -- AFP
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