DPRK leader donates $500,000 in aid to Koreans in Japan

PYONGYANG, March 24 (Itar-Tass) - Kim Jong Il, Leader of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has donated $500,000 to a
fund of aid to Koreans who suffered as a result of the powerful earthquake
and tsunami in Japan, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported
Thursday.
The funds are intended for Choren (the League of Koreans Residing in
Japan), with which the DPRK maintains contacts.
At the same time, according to KCNA, the DPRK Red Cross Society sent
$100,000 to Japan's Red Cross.
Earlier, Kim Yong Nam, Chairman of the Presidium of the DPRK's Supreme
National Assembly, in a message to the Choren leadership, had expressed
condolences on the death of compatriots in Japan in consequence of the
natural calamity. Kim Yong Nam expressed a high appreciation of the
activities of the Leagua which, immediately after the earthquake, "took
urgent measures to save compatriots in disaster-hit areas".
Kim Yong Nam also expressed confidence that all member-organizations
of Choren would succeed in eliminating the aftermath of the natural
calamity quickly, "manifesting indomitable will and making joint efforts".
The DPRK has no diplomatic relations with Japan.