ROK TO SEND FLOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS SEOUL 002458 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS SHENYANG PLEASE PASS TO A/S HILL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PREF KN KS EIAID SUBJECT: ROK TO SEND FLOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The DPRK experienced heavy flooding from August 7-12, and with more rain possible in the coming days for central North Korea, additional flooding is possible. In contrast to previous years, the DPRK has asked for relief assistance within days of the flooding. Official damage assessments for the recent floods in the DPRK remain incomplete partly because of the damage to the DPRK's communications and infrastructure. The ROK will send approximately USD 70 million in flood relief assistance to the DPRK, including over USD 6 million in the first batch in the coming days. -------------- FLOOD DAMAGE ESTIMATES -------------- ¶2. (U) According to an August 14 Ministry of Unification press release, hundreds of North Koreans are reported to be dead or missing following a week of heavy rain in Pyongyang and the provinces of North Hwanghae, South Pyongan, South Hamgyeong and Gangwon. The MOU press release states that at least 30,000 buildings housing 63,300 families and approximately 800 public buildings have been destroyed from the flooding. In addition, approximately 540 bridges and 70 sections of railway have been swept away by the flood. ¶3. (U) Heavy rainfall in the Pyongyang area has flooded both the Daedong and Botong rivers, submerging several places in the city near the two rivers. Gangwon province was reported to be the worst-hit area, with more than 20,000 homes damaged or destroyed and 100-200 people dead or missing. ¶4. (U) According to South Korean press reports, North Korean workers and local military units have been mobilized to repair damaged roads. The press reports also estimate that 50,000-100,000 hectares of agricultural land were washed away by the heavy rains. -------------- WORST FLOODS IN 60 YEARS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) According to Ministry of Unification Deputy Minister for Information and Analysis Seo Sung-woo and Intelligence Coordinator Choi Sangchol, DPRK government officials have told their ROKG counterparts privately that the current flooding in the DPRK is the worst in sixty years. The media has cited DPRK officials as saying that the flooding is the worst in 40 years. Seo said that the DPRK government is facing great difficulty getting an overall sense of the flood damage -- apart from the devastating flooding of Pyongyang's low-lying areas that has been shown on television -- because roads and communication links are cut off. Hence, Seo said that his office estimates that the real level of damage is two to three times worse than what has been reported so far. It was not raining in the Pyongyang area on August 16, but more rain was forecast for the central, heavily populated area of North Korea, including North Hwanghae, Pyongyang, and South Pyongan provinces. The Pyongyang-to-Wonsan highway, North Korea's main east-west route, had washed out in several places, and Seo said that Kim Jong-il may still be in South Hamgyong province because of the difficulty in returning to Pyongyang. Seo stated that on August 10 Kim Jong-il ordered military units to assist with flood relief, but that the ROKG believed that military facilities had also suffered severe damage, with some units lacking communication ability with the central government. ¶6. (SBU) Asked about the DPRK's quicker response in requesting international assistance after the recent floods, compared with previous episodes of flooding such as in July 2006, Seo said that the response time was a reflection of the seriousness of the situation, with the DPRK government assessing that it needed international help to recover. At the same time, Seo thought it very unlikely that the DPRK would allow international NGOs access to the damaged areas, in a manner consistent with its past behavior. -------------- ROK TO PROVIDE AID -------------- ¶7. (SBU) MOU DG Yang Chan-suk told A/DCM Yun that MOU would announce emergency assistance to North Korea on August 17. The first shipment, valued at around USD 6.3 million (won 6 billion),would consist of potable water, instant noodles, blankets, tents, choco pies, outdoor cooking stoves, towels, and shoes. No separate shipment of rice is planned, contrary to reports in some newspapers. There will be follow-up shipments. The total value of emergency assistance related to the recent floods is estimated at around USD 70 million, according to Yang. ¶8. (SBU) Press reports indicate that ROK officials are coordinating with the South Korean Red Cross on the list of items and schedule for delivery to the North. These items may include construction equipment for reconstruction. Meanwhile, MOU is coordinating with the Korea NGO Council for Cooperation with North Korea (KNCCK) -- an organization made up of 59 South Korean humanitarian assistance NGOs that have projects in the DPRK -- to support civilian efforts to deliver emergency flood relief assistance to the North. ¶9. (SBU) Individual NGOs such as the South-North Sharing Campaign are already planning to deliver emergency items through Nampo. Join Together Society (JTS) also released its plans on August 16 to start a fundraising campaign for North Korean flood victims and is planning to provide 1000 tons of corn at the end of this month. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (SBU) While the extent of the damage caused by the floods remains unclear, the scope of the natural disaster is not: the floods have severely damaged a large cross-section of the DPRK. With the ROK set to provide relief assistance, a similar contribution by the U.S. would be well-received in both the DPRK and the ROK. STANTON