South Korea's Relief Aid for the Victims of the Train Explosion at Ryongchon Station (As of April 28)
ROK Ministry of Unification
2004-04-28
1. Outline of Accident
O April 22
Train explosion occurred at Ryongchon station in the northern province of Pyongan, North Korea.
- The explosion was caused by an electrical short-circuit during the track switching of wagons loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer and tanker wagons (April 24 Korea Central News Agency)
- As of April 26, the extent of damages covers a radius of 1.5~2 km, and the depth of the blast goes 15m deep. The accident destroyed approximately 8,100 houses including 1,850 houses that totally collapsed and about 30 public, industrial and commercial buildings. It left about 50 dead and about 1,300 injured. The North is currently trying to determine the number of the missing (April 26 KCNA)
2. North Korea's Response
O The North, as an unusual gesture, quickly made an announcement not only about the accident but also about its scope and cause. The North, acknowledging China's humanitarian relief aid, appealed to the international community to join the relief efforts
- April 24-25 (KCNA, Pyongyang Broadcasting Station, Central TV), April 25 (Rodong Shinmun)
O The North, in its official response to the South's telephone notifications sent on April 24 and 26 in the name of the chairman of the South Korean Red Cross, expressed its willingness to accept the South's relief aid
3. Progress
O April 23
Acting President Goh Kun ordered to draw up relief measures for North Korea on humanitarian grounds
O April 23 14:00
In his weekly briefing to the press, Unification Minister Jeong Se-Hyun stated: ¡°The government will do its utmost to help North Korea on humanitarian and brotherhood grounds¡±
O April 24 10:00
Acting president Goh Kun presided over a ministerial meeting on emergency response measures for the victims of the accident at Ryongchon station
- The government, as part of its first stage relief aid, decided to provide 1 million dollars' worth of emergency relief supplies to North Korea
* As part of its support for the international community's relief efforts, the South expressed its willingness to send 200,000 dollars to World Health Organization via the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea in Geneva
O April 25 09:00
The government convened a Working-level Emergency Response Team meeting on relief aid to victims of the train explosion
- The task force team discussed specific relief aid efforts, including the individual items of emergency relief supplies and method of transportation
O April 26 14:00
The South received a response from the North in the name of the chairman of the North Korean Red Cross
- The North, expressing its gratitude for the South's consolation, requested the South to send relief supplies via sea route. It proposed to hold a working-level consultative meeting in Gaesong on April 27
O April 27 14:30~17:00
The South and the North made an inter-Korean contact in Gaesong to discuss issues regarding emergency relief aid for the victims of the train blast at Ryongchon station
- The South informed the North of its plan to dispatch a medical expert team, and deliver emergency relief goods and medical supplies. The South also expressed its willingness to provide to the North materials needed for the restoration of the railroads, mobile home containers for temporary residence, and tents.
- The North, saying that there are sufficient medical supplies, daily necessities as well as medical experts already working on the site, requested an immediate supply of materials and equipment needed for the restoration of the damaged area.
* The North made a request for the following items:
40,000 square meters of steel plate for roof, 50,000 tons of cement, 10 bulldozers, 500 tons of diesel oil and school supplies
O April 28
The South sent 1million dollars' worth of emergency relief supplies to Nampo on a sea route
4. Major Relief Effort
O As part of its first relief aid, the South provided 1million dollars' worth of emergency relief supplies. The supplies include:
- 400,000 dollars' worth of daily necessities and emergency relief goods
* 3,000 sets of emergency relief supplies (each set consists of two quilts, underclothes, towels and a few cakes of soap), 100,000 bowls of instant ramen, 10,000 bottles (1.8L) of mineral water, 3,000 blankets, and 3,000 pairs of training suits
¡Ø They were procured by April 26 (Mon)
- 400,000 dollars' worth of medical supplies and equipment
* A total of 91 types of medical equipment and 74 types of necessary medical supplies
¡Ø They were procured by April 28 (Wed)
O The government sent 200,000 dollars to World Health Organization to help promote the international community's relief aid to North Korea
O The government will cover the transportation cost of those NGOs and civic groups that send their raised funds to the site of accident at Ryongchon station through the South Korean Red Cross.
5. Future Plan
O Supply of restoration equipment
- Taking into account the amount in stock, the government will decide how much restoration equipment will be supplied to the North
O Support for private-level assistance
- The government will encourage civic groups and local governmental organizations to provide their relief aid through the South Korean Red Cross
- The government plans to form a single task force team consisting of the South Korean Red Cross, civic groups and the government
¡Ø International Assistance for the Victims of the Accident at Ryongchon station
¡à U.S.
O U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that the U.S. is ¡°willing to help¡± the North
O Whitehouse spokesperson Scott McClellan announced, on April 26, that the U.S. would provide 100,000 dollars in aid to the North
¡à Japan
O Foreign Ministry announced, on April 25, its plan to provide 100,000 dollars' worth of relief medical supplies.
¡à China
O Foreign Ministry announced, on April 24, its plan to provide 1.2 million dollars' worth of relief supplies
- As part of its first relief aid efforts, China sent, on April 25, 2,000 blankets, 300 tents and food worth about 70,000 dollars via its Customs house in Shinuiju to North Korea
* Choe Inse, vice chairman of the People's Committee of the Northern Pyongan province, visited the delivery site
¡à Russia
O April 24
Russia, in the name of President Vladimir Putin, sent condolences to the victims of the train blast.
O Deputy Emergency Situation Minister Yury Brazhnikov announced on April 25 that Russia, as its first stage relief effort, would provide North Korea with 10 tons of medical supplies, 1,000 blankets and 85 tents (for 10-30 people)
* A transport plane carrying relief goods is scheduled to take off at 6 P.M on April 26
¡à Canada
O Canada announced its plan to provide 100,000 Canadian dollars through the Red Cross
¡à EU
O European Commission decided on April 23 to provide 200,000 euros via the Danish Red Cross
* Germany, in the name of its chancellor, sent a telegram of condolences to North Korea
¡à International Organization
O Various international organizations are joining relief aid efforts such as United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA), UNICEF, World Health Organization(WHO), Food & Agriculture Organization(FAO), World Food Programme(WFP), International Federation of Red Cross(IFRC) and International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC)
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