South Korea prepared yesterday to send about 4,540 tonnes of rice to flood victims in North Korea in its first humanitarian rice shipment to its neighbor since a conservative, pro-US government took office in 2008.
For a decade, South Korea was a major donor of food to North Korea before South Korean President Lee Myung-bak halted unconditional assistance following his inauguration in early 2008. Lee’s government also drastically slashed trade with North Korea after tension spiked over March’s deadly sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on Pyongyang.
South Korea promised last month to send 10 billion won (US$8.5 million) in flood aid to the North.
A freighter carrying the rice was to leave the southern Gunsan port yesterday for the Chinese city of Dandong on the border with North Korea. Chinese trucks are to deliver the rice to flood victims in the northwestern North Korean city of Sinuiju by mid-next month, according to Seoul’s Red Cross, which handles the government-financed shipment.
Heavy flooding swamped farmland, houses and public buildings in Sinuiju in August, affecting an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 people, and the rice should feed about 100,000 people for 100 days, according to the Red Cross.
“It’s a response to the North’s conciliatory measures,” said Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University. “I can say it’s a small but considerably meaningful start of assistance to North Korea.”
Lee’s two liberal predecessors seeking reconciliation with North Korea had sent about 270,000 to 360,000 tonnes of rice to the North annually. Lee, however, suspended such unconditional aid linking it to progress in the North’s denuclearization process.
South Korea’s last rice shipment to North Korea was made in December 2007. Rice is a key stable for both Koreas.
Also yesterday, two ships carrying 3 million instant cup noodles were to leave for Dandong from the Port of Incheon, west of Seoul, to deliver them to Sinuiju, Jung said. Cement and medicines will also be delivered to North Korea by December, he said.
The North’s latest conciliatory gestures showed how it badly needs aid to recover from the flooding damage and the regime wants to provide a livelihood for its people as it tries to maintain stability while leader Kim Jong-il moves to transfer his power to a son, Yong-hyun said.
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