Red Cross Offers Flood Aid as Pyongyang Parties

With torrential rains causing flooding and extensive damage to North Korea, the South Korean Red Cross has offered $4.7 million in aid, reports Yonhap News. Record storms that overwhelmed South Korea last week and killed scores of people also hit the North, killing dozens, destroying 2,900 homes, and washing away more than 148,000 acres of farmland. North Korea has yet to respond to the offer.

It's been a hard year for North Korea, with a harsh winter leaving millions in danger of starvation. This new round of emergency relief may ease tensions between the Koreas, which have been high for months following several provocations from the North.
Despite the flooding and food shortages, the annual Arirang Games in Pyongyang are proceeding as usual. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in choreographed dances at Monday night's opening ceremony, marking the 63rd anniversary of the country's founding, Reuters reports., (More North Korea stories.)