S'pore ready to help in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

Singapore

SINGAPORE is ready to send its CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assist in the relief operations following Hurricane Harvey's devastation of parts of Texas, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told US President Donald Trump in a phone call on Tuesday.

The tandem-rotor, heavy-lift helicopters will be deployed from the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Peace Prairie detachment in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), responding to media queries on Tuesday, said PM Lee spoke to President Trump while the American leader was on Air Force One, en route to Texas. Mr Trump thanked him and accepted his offer of help, MFA said. Mr Lee had called to express his concern and sympathy over the loss of life and damage caused by the hurricane in Texas and Louisiana.

The two leaders also discussed North Korea's continued and deliberate provocations, including its latest ballistic missile launch on Tuesday, MFA said.

Mr Lee said Singapore was "deeply concerned" and had on Tuesday issued a statement condemning this reckless action.

The statement read: "This reckless provocation is in blatant defiance of the international community and severely jeopardises the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula."

The missile test, along with the preceding tests since the start of this year, is a serious breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"We strongly urge the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to cease all provocations immediately, and reiterate our long-standing call for the DPRK to abide by its international obligations and commitments."

Mr Lee will meet Mr Trump at the White House in October.