Pyongyang, Jan 11 (ANI): North Korea has said that before the death of the nation's long-term ruler Kim Jong Il, the United States offered to provide food aid if Pyongyang halted its uranium enrichment programme.
The North Korean Central News Service quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying that Washington made the offer during high-level talks in July last year.
According to Express.co.uk, the North's spokesman said Washington later sought to change the amount of food aid and the items it had earlier offered.
The statement also said unspecified 'hostile forces' are spreading 'unsavoury' rumours that North Korea 'is holding its hands out for food' after Kim Jong Il's death.
The spokesperson blasted Washington for "politicizing" food shipments. But he seemed to suggest Pyongyang would still be open to the deal, saying it would "keep a watch on the United States to see if it really has the commitment to build trust."
North Korea, after decades of economic mismanagement, has long struggled to feed its people, but the problem was highlighted this year by the nation's repeated vows to start down the road towards a strong, prosperous country as it celebrates the centennial of the birth of founder Kim Il Sung in April. (ANI)
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