19 Aug 2011 19:14

Russia to ship up to 50,000 tonnes of wheat to N. Korea as humanitarian aid

MOSCOW. Aug 19 (Interfax) - Russia will send humanitarian aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"In response to the DPRK government's address, Russia has decided to send humanitarian aid of up to 50,000 tonnes in food wheat to this country's population, which is experiencing an acute shortage of food," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"The first shipment of Russian grain arrived at the port of Hungnam on August 19. The food shipments should be completed within September this year. We view this humanitarian operation as a contribution to the strengthening of traditionally neighborly relations between the peoples of our two countries," it said.