hankyoreh

South Korea Monday sent the first batch of its emergency aid to North Korea to help the communist country cope with the damage from flash floods, officials said.

"We sent 30 5-ton trucks to North Korea via the overland route in the morning. Later in the day, an additional 30 trucks of aid will be delivered," said an official at the Unification Ministry.

By the end of this month, other aid such as materials and equipment will be delivered, while cement will be sent by the end of next month, the official said.

Last week, South Korea endorsed the sending of 49.3 billion won (US$48 million) worth of emergency aid to North Korea.

The aid package breaks down to the purchase of materials, equipment and cement valued at 37.4 billion won (US$36 million), attendant transportation cost of 10 billion won (US$9 million) and $2 million to be delivered to the North via the United Nations.

Late last month, South Korea decided to send 100,000 tons of cement, 5,000 tons of iron bars, 80 trucks, 500 tons of gasoline, 20 road reconstruction machines and 20,000 tons of pitch to the flood-stricken North
SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap)