S. Korea to airlift supplies to storm-hit Cambodia

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Wednesday it will airlift about seven tons of supplies this week to Cambodia as part of its pledge to help the Southeast Asian country bounce back from recent storm damage.

A C-130 transport aircraft carrying tuna cans, powdered milk, soap and other supplies will depart Thursday after the leaders of the two countries agreed last month on joint recovery efforts, the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul said in a statement.

South Korea will contribute US$200,000 worth of supplies, half of which will be carried on the aircraft while the other half will be delivered by local suppliers in Cambodia, the ministry said.

Typhoon Ketsana killed at least 18 people in central Cambodia in September, injuring 100 others and destroying scores of homes, according to news reports.

$200K in SKorean humanitarian emergency aid for typhoon victims in Cambodia

Humanitarian emergency aid for typhoon victims in Cambodia

02 Nov 2009
Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

1. With regard to enormous loss of human lives and property in Cambodia caused by typhoon "Ketsana" on October 1-2, the Government of the Republic of Korea has decided to provide emergency relief supplies worth 200,000 dollars to support recovery efforts in Cambodia and join the international community in its humanitarian assistance activities.

Typhoon "Ketsana" that hit northwestern Cambodia on October 1-2 has left 43 people dead, 67 injured, about 6,000 families homeless, and around 48,000 families short of food. The typhoon also caused property and infrastructure damage, washing away or damaging about 1,000 houses, sweeping away 57,000 hectares of farmland and livestock, and destroying roads.

2. During the summit between President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Hun Sen on October 22, President Lee expressed his intention to provide cooperation through the Foreign Ministry in response to a request from the Cambodian side to support typhoon recovery operations. The Korean government will provide relief food and daily necessities that the Cambodian government has asked for.

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

Cambodia: The matchmaker of South and North Korea

Great King-Matchmaker and Great Leader (L) and King-Maker-Matchmaker and his former advisor-turned predisent (R)

PM: Cambodia could mediate between DPRK, S Korea

PHNOM PENH, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has suggested that Cambodia could mediate between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea, as unlike most countries it enjoys good relations with both, local newspaper the Mekong Times said Wednesday.

Speaking at the inauguration of a South Korean-funded project to revitalize National Road 3, Hun Sen revealed that the recently-elected president of South Korea, himself a former advisor to Hun Sen, had asked him to relay a message to the DPRK Prime Minister during a recent official visit.

South Korea bears no bad intentions for the DPRK, in fact it plans to assist it in the economic and humanitarian sectors, Hun Sen said.

The fact that Cambodia has had strong diplomatic ties with South Korea since 1996, dose not mean that Cambodia ignores the DPRK, he added.

Political analysts have said Cambodia is in a unique position to mediate between the two as Hun Sen has a good relationship with South Korea while former King Norodom Sihanouk has held close links with the DPRK and China for decades.