N. Korea rejects flood relief offer

SOUTH KOREA: North Korea's Red Cross has rejected an offer from its South Korean counterpart for aid to flood victims, a South Korean Red Cross official said Wednesday.

North Korea "expressed thanks for Seoul's offer" but said "it will handle the recovery efforts from recent floods by itself," a senior North Korean Red Cross official said, according to the South Korean Red Cross.

The two Koreas exchanged messages through the Pyongyang office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies last week, the South Korean official said, asking not to be identified citing policy.

Floods caused by heavy rains in mid-July killed at least 154 North Koreans and left another 127 or more missing, according to the United Nations.

North Korea's official media has said the disaster caused hundreds of casualties as well as cutting off roads, bridges, railroads and communications.

South Korean Red Cross chief Han Wan-sang had expressed its intention to provide relief aid to the impoverished communist neighbor once the North makes a request.

Seoul, Wednesday, Reuters