Malik blog

N. Korea reduces capital's size: report

SEOUL (AFP) – Impoverished North Korea has reduced the size of its capital, a South Korean government report showed Monday, sparking speculation that the move was prompted by food shortages.

Pyongyang has relinquished southern districts to its adjacent North Hwanghae province, the South's unification ministry said in an annual report, without speculating about the reason for the move.

The Yonhap news agency said, without specifying a timeframe, that the capital of three million people has halved its size, probably to ease the burden of feeding its citizens.

As a result about 500,000 people were excluded as Pyongyang citizens who have been relatively well-fed despite chronic food shortages, it said.

Yonhap quoted a source as saying: "It is possible that the benefits only given to Pyongyang residents have put pressure on the state finances."

Aid groups have warned that the North's chronic food shortages would worsen this year as international donations dwindle, in part due to irritation over the regime's missile and nuclear programmes.

In a commentary Monday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency expressed concern about soaring grain prices in international markets.

Bad weather has led to a cut in grain production worldwide, it said, adding food shortages would become serious in many countries this year.