By Kim Hyo-jin
Mongolia has provided about some 100 calves to North Korea as global aid to the isolated nation has dried up in the face of growing concerns over dire human rights situation.
China’s Huanqiu Shibao daily reported Monday that a North Korean cargo plane loaded with about 100 calves flew to Pyongyang from Choibalsan Airport in eastern Mongolia on Dec. 29.
Mongolian Foreign Minister Luvsanvandan Bold told local media last Friday that, “We provided 104 calves to North Korea as part of our host role for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).” Mongolia has held the chairmanship of the organization since last year.
Bold stressed it was a “humanitarian assistance,” saying, there was little chance of delivering more livestock due to the lack of a budget.
In Oct. 2013, Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj pledged to provide 10,000 livestock for free during his official visit to the reclusive nation. At that time, Tsakhia showed determination to resolve the issue of food shortages there.
It reported that Mongolia faced problem in transporting that many livestock. As an overland route would risk killing them, it needed to deliver them by cargo plane, which was deemed unaffordable.
Pyongyang is expected to send the 104 calves to a livestock farm called “Sepo” in Gangwon Province, according to the newspaper. The farm is a part of a livestock complex Pyongyang established in late 2012.
“Establishing the Sepo complex was one of the biggest priorities for the young leader Kim Jong-un,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. “Mongolia is trying to maintain close ties with North Korea by cooperating in the project.”
Mongolia, a former communist nation, was the second country to recognize North Korea. It has remained close to the repressive regime ― even after its democratization ― by providing aid.
“Ulan Bator needs Pyongyang to allow it to use its ports as the country is landlocked,” Yang said.
Mongolia has tried to play a crucial role, portraying itself as an honest broker on the Korean peninsula issue, he added.
North Korea has also been eager to expand its exchanges with Mongolia since relations with China have remained chilly , resulting in less trade of direly needed food and oil.