N.Korea Asks Russia for Free Wheat

North Korea has asked Russia to send 50,000 tons of free wheat to solve a food shortage caused by natural disasters, a senior Russian lawmaker said Monday.

According to the Interfax news agency, Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council, told North Korean Ambassador to Moscow Kim Hyong-jun that Moscow is reviewing the request.

According to a UN report in December, the North suffered a dismal harvest last year due to scorching summer heat and flooding and is suffering a food shortage as a result.

The UN believes the North needs 640,000 tons of grain. Last year Russia donated US$8 million to the World Food Programme for North Korea.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations, and the two countries are discussing ways to strengthen cooperation in the economic and military sectors, Kim told Interfax.

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Representative for North Korean Policy Mark Lambert arrived in Russia on Monday for a two-day visit. He reportedly discussed North Korean denuclearization with senior Russian government officials.

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