S.Korea plans to help DPRK deal with A/H1N1 flu

SEOUL, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday said the government plans to unconditionally offer drugs to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) if the A/H1N1 flu breaks out in the country.

Lee made the remarks at a cabinet meeting held in the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

There are reports about an outbreak of the new contagious disease in the DPRK. If it can be confirmed, the government should discuss ways to offer assistance to the country, Lee was quoted by Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Sun-kyoo as saying.

The government should unconditionally offer drugs to the DPRK in dealing with the A/H1N1 virus out of humanitarian considerations, Lee said, adding that "such assistance must be provided swiftly" as the disease could quickly spread in the DPRK where "conditions are not so good."

Meanwhile, South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean relations, said it will follow the president's instructions to coordinate with related parties on concrete measures, so as to provide assistance to the DPRK as soon as possible.

According to the spokesman Chun Hae-sung, the top priority of the assistance is to provide antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and other medicine.

The ministry is considering sending a message to the DPRK soon to discuss the aid measures, Chun said.

However, until now, no official announcement or reports have come from the DPRK that the new flu has been detected, Chun said, adding that the Seoul's government also cannot confirm any report by South Korean media that the new flu has broken out in some areas of the DPRK.