Dutch send trade envoy to N Korea

The Netherlands has sent a trade envoy to North Korea, which could help the country increase food production, a farming economist said. "You can opt to stay away until there is an acceptable regime, but you can also show goodwill and look what we can offer in terms of food provision," said economist Doeke Faber. DutchNews.nl reported Monday the trade mission is the first from the Netherlands to try to make inroads into doing business with North Korea, a country many others avoid due to its authoritarian political system. Despite the country's widespread disfavor, "if we can make life easier for the people there, I have no objections," Faber said.