POSSIBLE SALE OF US CORN TO NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000600150023-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 23, 2005
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: November 22, 1972
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2006/01/17 : CIA-RDP80BO1495R0001000150023-8
,PDI-. r3- -.7
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT : Possible Sale of US Corn to North Korea
1. Marubeni, a Japanese trading firm, has applied to the
United States Department of Agriculture for authorization to
sell 100,000 tons of US corn to North Korea. USDA is in favor
of granting authorization; however the matter will be decided
by the National Security Council.
2. The North Koreans apparently want US corn because of
a shortfall in supplies of Australian wheat, which is normally
their principal source of imported grain. In recent years,
North Korea has been importing about 200-300 thousand tons of
Australian wheat annually, but the Australians apparently will
be unable to supply large amounts this year. Because of this
North Korea has bought 100 thousand tons of wheat from New
Zealand and now is looking to the US. The fact that China has
purchased US grain no doubt made such a step by North Korea
politically more acceptable. The cost of US corn currently is
substantially less than that of wheat and there is a large
demand for corn in North Korea, usually satisfied from domestic
output. The US has plenty of corn available, so the purchases
should have no appreciable affect on the corn market.
irec or
Economic Research
Copy _L
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Approved For Release 2006/01/17 : CIA-RDP80B01495 000600150023-8
 25X1 Approved For Release 2006/01/17 : CIA-RDP80BO1495R000600150023-8
Approved For Release 2006/01/17 : CIA-RDP80BO1495R000600150023-8