The South Korean government has officially withdrawn its offer of flood aid after North Korea failed to express the will to accept it.
South Korea made the offer worth 5 billion won via the Korea National Red Cross at the start of August, saying it was willing to send North Korea’s flood victims highly nutritious foods for babies and children alongside Choco Pies and instant noodles.
However, a South Korean official explained today, “The government cannot wait forever, so concludes the flood aid process and will deal with the prepared aid in the appropriate manner.”
Outlining what such a process means, the official continued, “There are legal provisions related to flood aid of this sort, and we will deal with it in consultation with the Korea National Red Cross,” before adding, “We find it lamentable that we were unable to complete the aid delivery of purely humanitarian aid because North Korea did not clarify its will to receive it.”
However, leaving the door slightly ajar, the official also noted, “(Although it is late), if and when North Korea makes clear the will to accept the aid, we will decide how to respond.”
The government first announced its intention to begin delivery of the aid on August 15th.
