S. Korea offers large aid package for N. Korea flood recovery efforts

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
South Korea will provide millions of dollars worth of additional aid to flood-wrecked North Korea to help its communist neighbor rebuild devastated regions, an official announced Friday. The South's offer of 37.4 billion won (US$39.7 million; ?29.3 million) came days after the North requested construction materials and heavy equipment. The new aid shipment - separate from an earlier 7.1 billion won (US$7.5 million; ?5.5 million) emergency relief package - includes cement, reinforcing rods, trucks and construction machinery along with fuel, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung told reporters. "North Korea is having difficulties recovering from the floods because of the shortage of construction equipment and material," Lee said. "It badly needs such material and equipment."