蒙古對北朝鮮提供食糧支援

Recently the FNN on-line reported the following:

深刻な食糧不足が指摘されている北朝鮮に対し、モンゴルが食糧支援を行うことが明らかになった。
北朝鮮側が求めていたもので、核開発の一方で、北朝鮮の苦しい国内事情がうかがえる。
モンゴル政府は、先週末までに、北朝鮮への小麦粉の食糧支援を実施することを決めた。
具体的な援助の量や実施時期は未定で、6月、国内で入札を行ったあと、北朝鮮に送られるという。
4月、モンゴルに着任した北朝鮮のホン・ギュ大使は、エルべグドルジ大統領に対し、「北朝鮮はひどい食糧不足に直面する可能性があり、北朝鮮への食糧支援を検討するようにお願いしたい」と直訴していた。
これまで、北朝鮮を支援してきた中国との関係が悪化したため、春から夏にかけて、慢性的な食糧不足に悩む北朝鮮は、友好国のモンゴルに救いの手を求めた形となる。

(05/13 21:33)

(試譯文)

It became clear that Mongolian would provide food assistance to North Korea where a serious food shortage was pointed out.

While the North Korea was asking, on the other hand, it could be imagined there was the embarrassing internal condition of nuclear development in North Korea.

The Mongolian government decided, by last weekend, to carry out the food assistance in sending some flour to North Korea.

It was said that the quantity and the schedule of the concrete assistance to be carried out was not yet decided. After holding a tender at home in June, it would be sent to North Korea.

In April, Ambassador Hong Kyu of North Korea who arrived at Mongolian for a new post directly petitioned to President Elbegdorj, saying that "North Korea would face a severe food shortage and would like to seek your help so that the food assistance to North Korea may be considered".

Because North Korea’s relation with China who was giving the support until now had got worse, and that North Korea worried about a chronic food shortage might occur from spring to summer, the Mongolian as a friendly nation was therefore asked to lend a helping hand.

I am interested to know why the Mongolian would offer help to North Korea. Common sense tells us that there is no free lunch.