Korean aid plea a sign of more openness?

NORTH Korea’s uncharacteristic request for aid following the country’s deadly train explosion has come to be regarded as a hint of possible change and openness in the tightly controlled, secretive country.

Most observers doubt it signifies anything of major political or diplomatic import.

Reeling from the April 22 train disaster and suffering an acute food shortage, the North Korean government heads to Beijing on May 12 for working-level talks on ending its nuclear weapons programmes.