ID :
202216
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 22:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/202216
The shortlink copeid
U.S. to offer $900,000 in relief aid for N. Korea
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with U.S. aid last year, S. Korea's stance, other details)
By Lee Chi-dong
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- The United States announced a decision Thursday to provide $900,000 worth of emergency aid to flood-ravaged North Korea.
"In response to humanitarian needs arising from recent flooding in the Democratic People???s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to DPRK," the State Department said in a press release.
"The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will contribute up to $900,000 in emergency relief supplies to North Korea's Kangwon and North and South Hwanghae provinces through U.S. NGOs," it added, referring to nongovernmental organizations. "This emergency relief demonstrates our continuing concern for the well-being of the North Korean people. It has been the United States' longstanding position that the provision of humanitarian assistance is separate from political and security concerns."
Pyongyang and Washington restarted high-level talks in New York in July to explore ways to resume the six-way nuclear negotiations. Many expect an additional meeting in the near future.
South Korean officials said they have consulted with the U.S. over flood aid to the North.
They also played down any political significance of the latest U.S. gesture.
"The U.S. provided flood-related aid last year. To our understanding, this year's aid is also a pure humanitarian move," a South Korean government official said, requesting anonymity.
The U.S. provided $600,000 in emergency relief supplies to North Korea in September after reports of severe floods there.
The communist North, with a fragile infrastructure, is haunted by flood damages in summer. Its media reported that heavy rain in June and July left dozens either dead, injured or missing, destroyed thousands of homes and inundated huge tracts of farmland.
Earlier this month, South Korea offered aid worth 5 billion won ($4.7 million) to North Korea.
By Lee Chi-dong
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- The United States announced a decision Thursday to provide $900,000 worth of emergency aid to flood-ravaged North Korea.
"In response to humanitarian needs arising from recent flooding in the Democratic People???s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to DPRK," the State Department said in a press release.
"The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will contribute up to $900,000 in emergency relief supplies to North Korea's Kangwon and North and South Hwanghae provinces through U.S. NGOs," it added, referring to nongovernmental organizations. "This emergency relief demonstrates our continuing concern for the well-being of the North Korean people. It has been the United States' longstanding position that the provision of humanitarian assistance is separate from political and security concerns."
Pyongyang and Washington restarted high-level talks in New York in July to explore ways to resume the six-way nuclear negotiations. Many expect an additional meeting in the near future.
South Korean officials said they have consulted with the U.S. over flood aid to the North.
They also played down any political significance of the latest U.S. gesture.
"The U.S. provided flood-related aid last year. To our understanding, this year's aid is also a pure humanitarian move," a South Korean government official said, requesting anonymity.
The U.S. provided $600,000 in emergency relief supplies to North Korea in September after reports of severe floods there.
The communist North, with a fragile infrastructure, is haunted by flood damages in summer. Its media reported that heavy rain in June and July left dozens either dead, injured or missing, destroyed thousands of homes and inundated huge tracts of farmland.
Earlier this month, South Korea offered aid worth 5 billion won ($4.7 million) to North Korea.
