N.Korean Regime Passes Buck in Flood Relief

The North Korean regime is trying to pass the brunt of helping victims of the latest flood in the Sinuiju region to ordinary people, Free North Korea Radio reported on Tuesday.

It quoted a source in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province as saying the North Korean Workers Party has instructed party members nationwide to take the lead in efforts to bring emergency relief to flood victims.

"Party committees in workplaces convened emergency meetings on Monday morning to relay the party's instructions urging members to send food, clothes or kitchen utensils to people in flood-hit regions," a North Korean source said.

The source quoted senior party members at the meetings as urging rank-and-file party members to "help out with at least two suits of clothes, washed if they are used, kitchen utensils such as spoons and chopsticks, and three days' supply of food," or more than 2 kg, to victims.

North Koreans are complaining that they have very little to spare now that their own food rations are not coming in amid a growing food crisis in the Stalinist state.