MOSCOW, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Timonin said Monday aid to North Korea would help address the country's humanitarian needs from summer flooding.
The Russian government said Monday it handed over more than $66,000 worth of medicine and medical equipment to North Korea.
"We hope that this aid will help facilitate the situation of North Korea's people, who suffer frequently from floods in the season of summer monsoon rains," the ambassador was quoted by Russian news agency Itar-TASS as saying.
At least 13 people were killed during heavy flooding in North Korea in July.
The envoy said the aid package was part of a program governed by the U.N.'s World Health Organization.
Timonin said the Russian government was ready "to give assistance to North Korea in the future in the cleanup of the aftermath of natural disasters, particularly with the use of potential of the U.N. bodies."
The North Korean government is accused of spending much of its national financial resources on its military and nuclear program to the detriment of its people.
