The government decided to use W49.3 billion from the inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to send supplies to North Korean flood victims at a meeting of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Support Committee (US$1=W939).
Of that amount, W37.4 billion will be spent on purchasing equipment and construction materials, W10 billion on transportation and W20 billion on a U.N. program for North Korea.
The government will send 100,000 tons of cement, 5,000 tons of iron bar, 80 trucks and 20,000 tons of asphalt pitch to the North from Sept. 10. The government has already sent some W7.5 billion worth of relief goods to the flood ravaged country.
Meanwhile humanitarian groups dedicated to helping North Koreans received government subsidies of W3 billion and are sending aid supplies worth W17.8 billion to the North.
After the Unification Ministry briefed President Roh Moo-hyun on the government's flood aid, the president ordered the ministry to send all necessary supplies without hesitation, and not worry that it could be interpreted as a move to win North Korean favor ahead of the planned inter-Korean summit in October, according to presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon.
"Some people tend to judge all policies in handling state affairs based on whether they are advantageous for elections or not," the president said. "I'm sorry to see that they link the suffering and disaster of our brothers across the border to the presidential election in December."