U.S. Pledges Humanitarian Aid to N. Korea

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WASHINGTON - The United States will give the Red Cross $100,000 to help the homeless in North Korea (news - web sites) in the aftermath of last week's devastating train collision, the White House said Monday.

The administration also is prepared to provide medical supplies and equipment, as well as a team of specialists in emergency medicine to work with the North Koreans, if needed, a White House statement said.

Despite differences with communist North Korea over its weapons programs and authoritarian policies, the United States has been the largest provider of food aid to the economically beleaguered Asian country.

"We provide all humanitarian aid in disasters based on need without regard to political issues," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said in a written statement.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=703&e=6&u=/ap/20040426/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_nkoreacClellan said in a written statement.