Year`s first aid shipment sent to North

A China-registered cargo ship, "Mingri,¡¯¡¯ carrying this year`s first aid shipment North Korea, left Inchon at about 10:20 a.m., Wednesday, bound for Nampo port in North Korea.

The 2,450-ton class vessel was carrying 120 head of milk goats, 60 tons of feed, 10 sets of machinery and tools for music education (used in "karaoke¡¯¡¯ or singing rooms), 24,000 sets of winter clothes and 2,562 boxes of school supplies.

The materials, packed in 26 containers, were collected by civic and religious groups and the Korean Stationery Industrial Cooperatives.

The collectors of the aid, including Korea Sharing Movement, held a ceremony at the first pier of Inchon port to mark the ship`s departure, expressing hopes that the items would serve as welcome New Year`s gifts to North Korea`s poverty-stricken populace.