Fri, December 11, 2009
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday launched working-level talks on the anti-A/H1N1 drug aid provided by Seoul to help Pyongyang stem the spread of the new contagious disease.
Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said in an earlier press briefing that the consultations which will be conducted through fixed-line communication at the truce village of Panmunjeom, will mainly focus on the concrete details such as the date and ways of shipments.
The discussion will also likely touch upon the provision of disinfectant and other supplies which could help prevent the spread of the new flu if the DPRK side requests, Lee said.
The spokeswoman stressed the importance of keeping transparency in the process of distributing the antiviral drugs.
"(We) believe that transparency of distribution, regarding any form of aid to the North, is a key principle," Lee said.
The government is mulling sending the medicine by land via the East Coast and Gyeongeui rail lines, Lee added.
Seoul on Thursday decided to provide the DPRK with 500,000 doses of A/H1N1 drugs, including Tamiflu and other new flu drugs.
The decision was made following Pyongyang's message to the Seoul's government that it would accept Seoul's offer to provide the aid.
The medical aid will be the first outside help to reach the DPRK since it admitted Wednesday that there has been a flu outbreak.
The DPRK in May received an emergency stockpile of 35,000 doses of anti-viral drugs from the World Health Organization, together with 70 other developing nations.
