South Korea offers 10 billion won ($ 8.4 million) to help in the recovery of North Korea from recent flooding.

South Korea proposes the aid and considers it as the first step in helping the northern neighbor after the event concerning the sinking of a South Korean ship allegedly by a North Korean warship and sanctions made by the U.S. against North Korea. The proposed aid came after the U.S. added new sanctions against the northern country.

The Red Cross in Seoul made the offer. It was communicating with the Red Cross based on Pyongyang to help the flood affected North Koreans. Officials invested the aid in giving relief goods, medicines, and emergency supplies to the people of North Korea. The southern country is waiting if North Korea will accept the offer. Furthermore, they said that they would be providing additional aids as needed with the call coming from North Korea. The South Korea cannot make any action unless the North Korea authorizes it.

The continuous rainfall in North Korea in July and August brought flooding in the low land in the country. The northwestern part of the country and the city of Sinuiju suffered most of the flooding. More than 5,000 people evacuated to the neighbor country of China. Flooding affects mostly agricultural and farming lands. This had brought both economic and health problems to the country.

China had been helping the country with large amount of aids. North Korea considers China as its remaining large ally country. A recent visit of President Kim to China had made many issues including nuclear programs. However, the officials claim that the meeting was rather in economic terms and strengthening the tie between their nations.

The U.S. has expanded its sanctions against North Korea last Monday. U.S. officials claim that they were cutting off the trade between them and North Korea.