Scottish Independence: Whisky-Loving North Korea 'Backs' Breakaway

As Scotland is set for the referendum on independence, the "Yes" campaign has gained an unlikely supporter in the form of North Korea.

North Koreans, who are said to love Scotch whisky, are reportedly keen on developing close trade ties with an independent Scotland.

"North Korea is rich in natural resources and we like the taste of Scotch whisky, so we can be beneficial to each other. The result will be very important and if the Scots do vote to become independent, then North Korea will be prepared to respond to that," Choe Kwan-il, managing editor of Tokyo-based Chosun Sinbo daily, which has close connections with the North Korean regime, told the Telegraph.

The Chosun Sinbo is published by the General Association of Korean Residents (GAKR), widely seen as a mouthpiece of North Koreans living in Japan.

"I believe that every person has the right to be a member of an independent nation, to have sovereignty, to live in peace and to enjoy equality. And I believe that a majority of Scots feel the same and will vote for independence," the chief of the pro-North Korean body added.

In the latest YouGov poll, the "No" campaign leads the unionists by a narrow margin.