South Korea offers millions in flood aid to North Korea
A North Korean Central News Agency picture shows flooding in North Pyongyan province. South Korea's Red Cross has offered North Korea aid worth $8.3 million following severe floods that have washed away homes, roads, railways and farmland.
(CNN) -- South Korea's Red Cross has offered $8.4 million in flood aid to North Korea, the Yonhap news agency said Tuesday.
The aid includes medical kits, food and emergency supplies, South Korea Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung told reporters.
The Red Cross is Seoul's main channel for humanitarian aid to North Korea. The communist nation has not yet replied to the offer, Chun was quoted as saying.
Earlier this month, nearly 260,000 people in northeastern China and North Korea fled their homes as heavy rains caused the Yalu River to swell over its banks, state news outlets in those countries reported Sunday.
Tensions between North Korea and its southern neighbor have escalated since a May report from Seoul blamed North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.
The report, whose findings have been endorsed by the U.S., alleged that a North Korean sub sank the ship, the Cheonan, with a torpedo, killing 46 sailors.
North Korea denies it was responsible for the sinking.
