September 17, 2010 10:31
Despite a dire food shortage and devastating recent floods, the North Korean military reportedly is keeping more than 1 million tons of rice in storage.
In a party caucus at the National Assembly on Thursday, Grand National Party floor leader Kim Moo-sung said calls for humanitarian food aid for the North are "inappropriate" at a time when the North "has as much as 1 million tons of rice in storage in preparation for war. We have to take this into consideration."
The figure apparently comes from a report by the National Intelligence Service for the ruling-party leadership.
South Korea worries about a rice surplus when it stores only about 1.49 million tons this year. If it is true that the North is really holding back 1 million tons of rice for the military, it could have a profound effect on the ongoing debate over whether to increase aid for the North.
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