South Korea to Resume Emergency Aid to
North Korea in Sign of Better Ties
On the other side,
North Korea Talks Broken Down Over Transfer of Money in Macau Bank

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea said Thursday it will resume emergency flood aid to North Korea that had been suspended after last year's nuclear test, in the latest sign that Pyongyang's recent agreement on nuclear disarmament has warmed ties between the Koreas.

The South's Vice Unification Minister Shin Eon-sang said the aid, which had been pledged to help North Korea cope with floods last summer, would be resumed.

Seoul has previously said it would send food and medical supplies along with construction materials and equipment.

This month, South Korea is also resuming regular fertilizer shipments to the North that had been part of its annual aid to its impoverished neighbor.

China: North Korea Talks Broken Down Over Transfer of Money in Macau Bank,

BEIJING — Chief Chinese envoy Wu Dawei said Thursday that talks on North Korea's nuclear program had broken down.

Wu was speaking after four days of talks hampered by a dispute over the transfer of North Korean funds frozen in a Macau bank, which kept North Korea away from the talks. "

This session has ended," Wu said. A statement issued by China said "the parties agreed to recess and will resume the talks at the earliest opportunity to continue to discuss and formulate an action plan for the next stage."

Japanese Foreign Ministry official said the parties had agreed to a recess.

The official, who could not be identified further due to the sensitivity of the talks, said the decision was made by members of all six parties after talks this week broke down over a dispute over the transfer of North Korean funds frozen in a Macau bank.

The decision was made after the chief nuclear envoy for North Korea flew out of Beijing.

The six-party talks were to have ended Wednesday, but were extended after Pyongyang refused to take part for two days because of problems over the transfer of North Korean funds in Macau bank.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said North Korea's chief nuclear envoy Kim Kye Gwan was likely leave Beijing later on Thursday.

Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, March 22nd, 2007

References:

1) The Fox News

2) The Fox News

Other links:

Korean American Chamber of Commerce Year End Meeting with Dr. Kim Hyen Uk, President, The Peace Forum for Foreign Policy and National Security and President, Korea Society of Nuclear Geopolitical Studies

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