DPRK asks S Korea to help it cope with effects of recent floods.

7/9 Tass 77

SEOUL, September 7 (Itar-Tass) -- DPRK has applied to South Korea with
a request to send it rice, cement and building equipment which will help
it cope with the effects of recent floods. The request to render it aid
was sent by North Korea on the lines of the Red Cross Society, a spokesman
for the South Korean Ministry for Unification said on Tuesday.
On August 31, the South Korean Red Cross Society offered Pyongyang
humanitarian aid worth 8.5 million dollars, however, it didn't include
rice deliveries of which to the North Korea were stopped in 2008 since the
moment of worsening of inter-Korean relations.
In a reply message Pyongyang gave preference to rice, cement and
excavators instead of medicines and top priorities. The official Seoul, as
the ministry's spokesman said, is studying now the request of the North
Korean side.
Judging by reports of Pyongyang television, the August torrential
rains damaged agricultural crops, dwelling houses and public buildings in
the city of Sinuiju bordering on China. According to the International Red
Cross Society, as a result of floods, 14 people died and tens of thousands
were evacuated.
"Deliveries of building equipment are not real for Seoul in connection
with the possibility of using it for military purposes," a professor of
the North Korean Studies University said.
-0-ast