Flooding and famine?

North Korea may be facing yet another food shortage, if Kim Jong-Il's public statements mean anything:

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has called for efforts to boost fertiliser production, state media reported, amid concerns of increasing starvation in the impoverished country.

In a rare admission of a "problem" with food supplies, the reclusive leader issued a directive during a trip to a fertiliser complex in the northeastern port of Hungnam, the Korean Central News Agency said late Saturday.

"In order to solve the problem of food (production), a key point in the issue of clothing, food and housing, it is necessary to actively develop agriculture and increase the supply of fertilizers for successful farming," Kim was quoted as saying.

He underscored "the need to focus efforts on the fertilizer production, always bearing in mind the (late) president's proposition that fertiliser immediately means rice and rice, socialism," the agency said.

Last year, of course, flooding was responsible for a great deal of suffering as well as decreased agricultural output. With this year's monsoon season drawing to a close, it looks as if North Korea has escaped major flooding, which hopefully means that the current food crisis will not be exacerbated.

On another note, MSNBC has an American's account of a recent visit to North Korea. Linked to the story is a slideshow of pictures taken.