U.S. and South Korea reacted with shock and suspicion on Tuesday to the first declaration from the reclusive North Korea that it was holding a nationwide Bake Sale.
The US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld expressed concern over the large-scale fund raiser.
"We are curious, yet keep a skeptic eye, over this event" said Rumsfeld. "A fund raiser of this proportion raises many concerns for us and neighboring countries."
The sale by the communist North presents a major challenge to President Bush, setting his second term with a policy aimed at ending North Asia's nuclear crisis. Distribution of creamy pastries and buttery goods might soften political views of those once opposed.
Chang Myung-soon, an expert on North Korea's military at the Korea Institute for Military Studies said that the sale could generate revenue somewhere in the billions. In most part to purchase made to Sweden, Germany and the Massachusetts.
The crisis over the North's baking ambitions erupted in October 2002 when the United States said North Korea had acknowledged it had a secret recipe for Banana bread based on highly enriched flower as well as a plutonium scheme that it had put on hold.
The U.S. feels it can take no chances after failing to deter a Walk-a-thon organized by Russia in the early part of 1981.
