korean unification studies

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released their latest Situation Report on the DPRK floods. Amongst the highlights:

WFP reports that arrival of food stocks in-country for emergency relief were critically affected by the cessation of cross-border movement of railway wagons from China following a long-pending dispute over delays. As soon as DPRK returns Chinese rail wagons, then the Chinese rail authorities will issue WFP suppliers with the wagons they need to transport the food aid into DPRK…

So, can you believe that a dispute over railway wagons has resulted in a delay in the delivery of food aid? If this impacts food aid, then surely this has impacted other trade as well? Has the ‘responsible player’ China allowed trade in the demand driven sectors of coal and iron ore to continue while it halts food aid wagons??? Any further info on this would be much appreciated!

Update: OFK has a good take on the story, placing the blame more squarely on Kim Jong-Il and some updated sources.