Ministry of Unification: "Cooperation on Infectious Diseases Between South and North Korea Needed... However, No Specific Discussions Yet"

Yeosang-gi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo proposed humanitarian aid to North Korea in relation to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and on the 20th, the Ministry of Unification once again emphasized the need for infectious disease cooperation between the South and the North.

Cho Hye-sil, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office that "the government holds the position that infectious disease cooperation is a humanitarian and reciprocal collaboration directly linked to the health and right to survival of residents in both the South and the North, and therefore cooperation between the two Koreas is necessary."

However, Deputy Spokesperson Cho added, "So far, there have been no requests for aid from North Korea or specific discussions related to inter-Korean cooperation," and said, "We plan to make judgments in the future by comprehensively considering domestic trends related to COVID-19, the situation in North Korea, and the support trends of the international community."

Earlier, on the 18th (local time), Secretary Pompeo revealed in a radio interview that "the United States has proposed humanitarian aid to the North regarding COVID-19."

Meanwhile, it is known that international organizations' quarantine support supplies for North Korea have arrived at the North Korea-China border area, but the Ministry of Unification has not been able to confirm whether they have actually been delivered.

Deputy Spokesperson Cho said, "The delivery of humanitarian aid supplies to North Korea by international organizations is basically a matter for the respective international organizations to confirm," and added, "There is nothing for the government authorities to confirm."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.