North welcomes flu aid from South
Published: 10 Dec. 2009, 21:36
North Korea yesterday accepted South Korea’s offer of help to fight A(H1N1) flu, and the two Koreas will further discuss logistics and specifics of the South’s assistance.
South Korea had earlier informed North Korea of its intention to provide help in the North’s battle with the flu.
Chun Hae-sung, spokesman with the Unification Ministry in Seoul, said Panmunjom liaisons from the two Koreas spoke on the hotline phone and they will remain the points of contact in further discussions regarding flu aid. Earlier yesterday, the South decided to supply North Korea with the antiviral drug Tamiflu to help the North deal with A(H1N1) flu.
After a meeting between the government and the ruling Grand National Party officials, Seoul decided that it would provide enough Tamiflu medication to the North “without compromising the supply for South Korea.”
Ahn Hong-jun, head of the special committee on the flu, said it may take up to four months to secure more Tamiflu and the South would rely on its current stock - enough for 5.9 million people - to aid the North.
Won Hee-mok, a GNP lawmaker, said the government and the ruling party agreed that emergency help was necessary to prevent further spread of the flu north of the border. He said the assistance “would not be at the expense of the South Korean supply” and the South would maintain enough Tamiflu for about 20 percent of the population.
On Wednesday, North Korea announced through its state media that the flu had infected nine citizens. A day earlier, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged the government to offer the North unconditional help to deal with the disease.
Seoul also yesterday lowered the flu alert level to orange, the second highest level, about a month after it was at its peak level of red. The government said the pace of flu infections has slowed.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
South Korea had earlier informed North Korea of its intention to provide help in the North’s battle with the flu.
Chun Hae-sung, spokesman with the Unification Ministry in Seoul, said Panmunjom liaisons from the two Koreas spoke on the hotline phone and they will remain the points of contact in further discussions regarding flu aid. Earlier yesterday, the South decided to supply North Korea with the antiviral drug Tamiflu to help the North deal with A(H1N1) flu.
After a meeting between the government and the ruling Grand National Party officials, Seoul decided that it would provide enough Tamiflu medication to the North “without compromising the supply for South Korea.”
Ahn Hong-jun, head of the special committee on the flu, said it may take up to four months to secure more Tamiflu and the South would rely on its current stock - enough for 5.9 million people - to aid the North.
Won Hee-mok, a GNP lawmaker, said the government and the ruling party agreed that emergency help was necessary to prevent further spread of the flu north of the border. He said the assistance “would not be at the expense of the South Korean supply” and the South would maintain enough Tamiflu for about 20 percent of the population.
On Wednesday, North Korea announced through its state media that the flu had infected nine citizens. A day earlier, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged the government to offer the North unconditional help to deal with the disease.
Seoul also yesterday lowered the flu alert level to orange, the second highest level, about a month after it was at its peak level of red. The government said the pace of flu infections has slowed.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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