PYONGYANG - Many countries have offered aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after a train explosion last Thursday claimed 161 lives and injured more than 1,300. The DPRK's official news agency, KCNA, said early this week that the blast caused about US$356 million in damage.

South Korea and the DPRK made contacts earlier on Monday on Seoul's plan to provide relief goods including 3,000 sets of emergency appliances, 100,000 boxes of instant noodles and 12,000 bottles of drinking water, after a meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom.

Seoul decided to provide emergency relief goods worth US$1 million to the DPRK following the explosion at Ryongchon railway station.

The first batch of assistance from China has already arrived in the DPRK. Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Wu Donghe went to Sinuiju on Monday to visit the six overseas Chinese hospitalized there after being injured in the explosion. The six Chinese were receiving medical treatment in three hospitals.

The European Union (EU) said it is sending 200,000 euros (US$238,000) worth of humanitarian aid to the DPRK.

The Danish Red Cross, working in conjunction with the EC's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), is ready to provide help immediately by using stocks already available close to the disaster zone.

In Russia, Emergencies Ministry spokesman Viktor Beltsov said Russia has decided to dispatch a total of 30 tons of humanitarian aid to the DPRK to help victims of last week's devastating train blast in the country.

The Finnish Red Cross also announced 50,000 euros (US$59,500) in aid to the DPRK to help relief work there.

The US announced on Monday that it will provide US$100,000 in humanitarian aid.

(Agencies via Xinhua)