Seoul: South Korea is suspending
shipments of flood aid to North Korea as of today following
the North's deadly shelling of a border island, Seoul's
unification ministry said.
The South in September promised a 10 billion won
(8.3 million dollar) aid package including rice, instant
noodles, cement and other emergency supplies, after its
neighbour was hit by severe floods in August.
The aid was delivered in the name of the Red Cross
and other private organisations but was partly financed by the
Seoul government.
Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-Sung said 5,000 tons of
rice, three million packs of instant noodles and 3,000 tons of
cement have already been sent.
But 7,000 tons of cement would be blocked along
with medical supplies worth 580 million won, he said.
The rice shipment was the first government-financed
rice aid to the North since a conservative South Korean
government took office in early 2008.
Yesterday's attack, which killed two marines and
injured 15 more along with three civilians, sparked outrage in
the South.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 11:06