TOKYO: North Korea's rulers are to import solar power from the West so that its soldiers can watch television and use computers when in barracks, a press report said on Sunday.

The energy poor nation has acted after communist leader Kim Jong-Il toured a military unit last year and found that power shortages were stopping soldiers from watching programmes, the major Japanese daily Mainichi reported.

Under Kim's instigation, Pyongyang's leadership ordered the People's Army in around March to "install recreational facilities at military units without fail," said the Mainichi quoting a source close to the North Korean regime.

As a result, the authorities have decided to buy solar power generation systems in large quantities from Western countries, the daily said.

The decision will allow soldiers to "watch television for more than five hours a day and use computers at military facilities", it added.

Kim's regime has favoured soldiers over other workers in deciding who benefits from solar power.

The diehard communist state has been hit by dire energy and food shortages in recent years with electric power stoppages witnessed daily even in the capital city Pyongyang, according to foreign residents and visitors.

In February, North Korea agreed in six-nation talks to dismantle its nuclear arms programmes in exchange for energy assistance. But the deal has been stalled by delays in ending a US-imposed freeze on North Korean bank accounts.


- AFP/so