Yonhap
10/4/2006
South Korea will continue to provide aid to help North Korea recover from flood damage despite growing tension over Pyongyang’s announcement that it plans to conduct a nuclear test, Seoul officials said Wednesday.
“It is difficult to suspend aid for Pyongyang’s flood recovery right now,” said an official at the South Korean Unification Ministry. “But the situation can change depending on the North’s moves.”
As of Wednesday, Seoul has shipped 21,585 tons of cements to Pyongyang, about one-fifth of the 100,000 tons it promised for recovery efforts.
The South also has sent 89,500 tons of rice and 3,200 tons of steel rods for the same purpose.
South Korea has cut its regular food shipments and fertilizer aid to Pyongyang since the missile tests in July, but it shipped a one-time aid package for flood damage recovery.
In a Foreign Ministry statement released Tuesday, North Korea said it would “conduct a nuclear test” in the future to bolster its war deterrent against what it called threats of U.S. aggression.
South Korea, the United States and other concerned parties warned Wednesday that North Korea will face a strong and united response by the international community if it carries out a nuclear test.
Some watchers raised concern that the cement provided to the North could be used to help with an underground nuclear test.
“How can the international community understand South Korea’s decision to send a shipment of cement to the North when it is seen as being essential for a nuclear test?” asked Rep. Rhee In-je of the People’s Central Party.
