N. Korea denies asking U.S. for food aid

North Korea said Wednesday it did not ask the U.S. for food aid before the death of Kim Jong-il, accusing Washington of “politicizing” food issues.

“Enemy forces are spreading false gossip as if we had asked for food (from the U.S.),” North Korea’s foreign ministry spokesperson said.

According to Pyongyang, the food aid issue was raised in early 2011, as the two sides were discussing an undelivered 330,000 tons of food aid of 500,000 tons the U.S. had promised in 2008.

Pyongyang said Washington offered to provide food aid if North Korea halted its uranium enrichment program in bilateral high-level talks in July.

The ministry’s spokesperson criticized Washington for “politicizing” the food issue by linking it with a temporary halt of North Korean sanctions and denuclearization.

“As opposed to the initial offer of more than 300,000 tons of food aid, the U.S. changed the size and the items of the food aid. We question if the U.S. is willing to build trust,” the spokesperson said.

Washington is maintaining its stance that it will provide 240,000 tons of “nutritional assistance” such as vitamins and biscuits for children and seniors on the condition that Pyongyang gives up its nuclear program.

On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said “it is not acceptable” for North Korea to attend the stalled six-party nuclear talks if it insists on being formally recognized as a nuclear power.

News reports said the North is demanding Washington increase the amount to more than 240,000 tons and include grains such as rice in the possible food aid.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)