The Republic of Korea (RoK) will supply official development assistance (ODA) for eradicating unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Vietnam, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) said. Specialists from South Korea will join hands with Vietnam to examine bomb and mine contamination situation in the country to decide specific support, KOICA’s Chief Representative in Vietnam Chang Jae Yun said at a meeting with Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh in Hanoi on Dec 15. The specialists will hold fact-finding trips to localities contaminated with UXO. UXO has caused more than 40,000 deaths and 60,000 others injured in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War as the Southeast Asian country bore more than 800,000 tons of bombs and mines dropped in during wars. The country is forecast to need roughly $10 billion and 300 years to clear UXO. (Vietnamplus.vn Dec 15, Quan Doi Nhan Dan – People’s Army Dec 16 p8)
