(LEAD) Russia provides more than 3,000 tons of flour to N. Korea

(ATTN: UPDATES with report by N. Korea's state news agency)

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- Russia has provided a total of 3,151 tons of flour to North Korea, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said Friday, in the latest food aid to the impoverished country.

The shipment was delivered to North Korean western port of Nampo earlier in the day by a Russian vessel, the embassy said on its Facebook page.

The embassy also said that 400 more tons of wheat flour purchased through Russian donations will be delivered to the northeastern city of Chongjin shortly.

Deputy Nampo Port Captain Chae Myong-su said "Korean people will never forget the deed of the Russian people," the embassy said.

"The food donation will contribute to boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency in an English-language dispatch. In December, Russia provided a similar donation to North Korea.

Russia is one of the major donors to the U.N. World Food Program. From the year 2011, Russian contributions exceeded US$25 million.

The North has relied on international handouts since the late 1990s, when it suffered a widespread famine that was estimated to have killed 2 million people.

entropy@yna.co.kr
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