The Chinese ambassador to North Korea, Li Jinjun, has vowed to forge agricultural cooperation with the reclusive North, which said it was hit by its worst drought in a century.
Li made the remarks during his recent visit to a crop field jointly run by the two nations, according to a statement posted on the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang and dated on June 5.
The statement did not give details of how severe the drought in North Korea was, other than saying that the drought would make the “situation of agricultural production more severe.”
North Korea’s state media reported this week that the country has been suffering from what it calls the worst drought in 100 years, raising concerns about food shortages.
On Thursday, China said it was willing to provide food aid to North Korea.
“We express our sympathy to North Korea for the severe drought, and hope that the North Korean government and its people could overcome difficulties caused by this disaster at an early date,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters.
“The Chinese side stands ready to help according to the need of North Korea,” Lu said.
It is uncommon for North Korea to publicly speak of its potential food shortages and the report suggests that Pyongyang wants help from the outside world.
Earlier this month, South Korea’s Unification Ministry warned that North Korea’s production of crops could drop by as much as 20 percent this year from last year if the drought continues.
China is North Korea’s economic lifeline and diplomatic backer, but their political ties remain strained over the North’s defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons. (Yonhap)
