Seoul: South Korea Friday ruled out giving aid to flood-hit North Korea, saying leader Kim Jong-Un would claim credit for any assistance following what Pyongyang calls the "worst disaster" since World War II.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) appealed Wednesday for $15.5 million in emergency funding to help North Koreans.
It warned of a "secondary disaster" in the impoverished country unless urgent assistance is provided.
At least 138 people are known to have died and nearly 400 are missing after torrential rain triggered major floods, devastating villages in the country's northeast, the UN said last week.
According to the UN, 140,000 people need assistance. The IFRC said about 70,000 remain homeless after tens of thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed.
UNICEF said Tuesday disease and malnutrition were rising, with health clinics reporting that twice as many children were seeking help compared to before the disaster.
If Seoul gave any help, "Kim Jong-Un would take all undue credit for it," Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee told journalists.
"Under these circumstances, I cannot shed the feeling that outside aid would be all in vain," he said while answering a question on whether the South would respond to appeals for aid.
Despite the UN appeal, the international community remains lukewarm, he said.
Earlier this week, the ministry rejected a request from NGOs to contact North Koreans to discuss possible aid. Unauthorised contacts are prohibited with possible jail sentences.
"While the North claimed it had suffered from the worst-ever disaster (since the end of World War II), Kim Jong-Un was breaking into big smiles at a rocket engine test site," Jeong said on Wednesday.
Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday hailed the "successful" test of new, high-powered rocket engine, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast.
The North's Red Cross on Thursday lambasted the South for a "smear campaign" after some South Korean media said discontent among North Koreans was rising as they were being forced into recovery work following the floods.
Despite the UN appeal, the international community remains lukewarm, he said.
Earlier this week, the ministry rejected a request from NGOs to contact North Koreans to discuss possible aid. Unauthorised contacts are prohibited with possible jail sentences.
"While the North claimed it had suffered from the worst-ever disaster (since the end of World War II), Kim Jong-Un was breaking into big smiles at a rocket engine test site," Jeong said on Wednesday.
Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday hailed the "successful" test of new, high-powered rocket engine, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast.
The North's Red Cross on Thursday lambasted the South for a "smear campaign" after some South Korean media said discontent among North Koreans was rising as they were being forced into recovery work following the floods.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) appealed Wednesday for $15.5 million in emergency funding to help North Koreans.
It warned of a "secondary disaster" in the impoverished country unless urgent assistance is provided.
According to the UN, 140,000 people need assistance. The IFRC said about 70,000 remain homeless after tens of thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed.
Advertisement
If Seoul gave any help, "Kim Jong-Un would take all undue credit for it," Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee told journalists.
Advertisement
Despite the UN appeal, the international community remains lukewarm, he said.
Advertisement
"While the North claimed it had suffered from the worst-ever disaster (since the end of World War II), Kim Jong-Un was breaking into big smiles at a rocket engine test site," Jeong said on Wednesday.
Advertisement
The North's Red Cross on Thursday lambasted the South for a "smear campaign" after some South Korean media said discontent among North Koreans was rising as they were being forced into recovery work following the floods.
Advertisement
Earlier this week, the ministry rejected a request from NGOs to contact North Koreans to discuss possible aid. Unauthorised contacts are prohibited with possible jail sentences.
"While the North claimed it had suffered from the worst-ever disaster (since the end of World War II), Kim Jong-Un was breaking into big smiles at a rocket engine test site," Jeong said on Wednesday.
Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday hailed the "successful" test of new, high-powered rocket engine, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast.
The North's Red Cross on Thursday lambasted the South for a "smear campaign" after some South Korean media said discontent among North Koreans was rising as they were being forced into recovery work following the floods.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
South Korea Uses Sniffer Dog To Search For Bedbugs After Paris Olympics South Korean YouTuber Makes Late-Term Abortion Video, Faces Police Probe North Korea Is Launching More Trash-Filled Balloons Southward: South Korea Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool This US City Has Been Declared America's Least Desirable, Survey Finds Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.