Seoul to Send 38,300 Tons of Fertilizer to NK
2003-05-29
South Korea will deliver 38,300 tons of fertilizer aid to North Korea by Sunday, part of the 200,000 tons it has pledged for this year, the South's Red Cross said on Tuesday (May 27).
According to the dispatch plan, the first batch of 15,000 tons will be sent tomorrow from the southern port of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, to the North's Nampo.
Four additional shipments will be made by Sunday, completing the delivery, officials said.
The Red Cross said it gave notification earlier to Jang Jae-on, head of the North's Red Cross Society, through a telegraph message via a liaison officer at the truce village of Panmunjom.
The South expects the entire provision of fertilizer to be completed in about 40 days through 25 shipments.
South Korean government decided to offer the fertilizer aid to the North on humanitarian grounds at the request from Pyongyang. The North needs the fertilizer to boost its grain production.
The Seoul administration estimates purchasing and transporting the fertilizer will cost about 65 billion won (roughly $53.58 million).
Previous fertilizer aid from the South totaled 155,000 tons in 1999, 300,000 tons in 2000, 200,000 tons in 2001 and 300,000 tons last year.
Source : www.korea.net
