North Koreans perform during the Arirang Mass Games at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang August 1, 2011 in this picture released August 2, 2011 by North Korea's official KCNA news agency. The characters read: "Arirang". REUTERS/KCNA 
 
 SEOUL (Reuters) - Thousands gathered in Pyongyang for the opening of the “Arirang” mass games, an annual spectacle celebrating North Korea’s leaders and history, even as their nation suffers from chronic food shortages and asks other nations for aid. 
 
 Nearly two million died from hunger in the 1990s, and shortages loom again following a severe winter and flooding this year. A U.N. report said in March that more than 6 million people are in urgent need of outside assistance. 
 
 But none of this showed on Monday night’s opening performance, which took place on the 63rd anniversary of North Korea’s founding with hundreds of thousands of people taking part in carefully choreographed dances and gymnastics displays, official news agency KCNA said. 
 
 “As the melody of the song ‘His Ideal’ resounded forth, such slogans as ‘Highest Tribute to the Great Leader, Father of Nation’ and ‘Highest Glory to the Great Leader, Comrade Kim Jong-il’ appeared in the background one after the other,” KCNA added. 
 
 The Arirang performances began in 2002 and have continued annually since then, with the exception of 2006, when they were cancelled due to severe flooding. They will continue for more than a month. ||||| The Red Cross said in the message that it "decided to provide the relief supplies to the North Korean people on humanitarian grounds," according to an official handling the case. He asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to media.
– With torrential rains causing flooding and extensive damage to North Korea, the South Korean Red Cross has offered $4.7 million in aid, reports Yonhap News. Record storms that overwhelmed South Korea last week and killed scores of people also hit the North, killing dozens, destroying 2,900 homes, and washing away more than 148,000 acres of farmland. North Korea has yet to respond to the offer. It's been a hard year for North Korea, with a harsh winter leaving millions in danger of starvation. This new round of emergency relief may ease tensions between the Koreas, which have been high for months following several provocations from the North. Despite the flooding and food shortages, the annual Arirang Games in Pyongyang are proceeding as usual. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in choreographed dances at Monday night's opening ceremony, marking the 63rd anniversary of the country's founding, Reuters reports.,