Government Provides $10 Million in Aid to North Korea... Supporting Infants and Women through WFP

Provision of Nutritional Supplements, Corn, Soybeans, and Cooking Oil
Ministry of Unification: "Humanitarian Cooperation Is Separate from Politics and Military"
Minister Lee In-young Expresses "Regret" over North Korea's Unauthorized Discharge from Hwanggang Dam

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is speaking while presiding over the South-North Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council at the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 6th.

The government has decided to provide humanitarian aid worth 10 million dollars to North Korea through the World Food Programme (WFP). This is the first decision on aid to North Korea since Minister of Unification Lee In-young took office. Additionally, Minister Lee expressed regret over North Korea's recent unauthorized discharge of water from the Hwanggang Dam upstream of the Imjin River.

On the 6th, the government held the 316th Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council (IECC) meeting and reviewed and approved a plan to support WFP's projects for North Korean infants and women with 10 million dollars (approximately 11.9 billion KRW) from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund. This decision had been proposed in June but was postponed due to the deterioration of inter-Korean relations following North Korea's demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "This support is in response to WFP's request," and added, "We decided to provide aid based on the judgment that it will contribute to improving the humanitarian situation of the most vulnerable groups in North Korea, infants and women." This project support is a form of government contribution to a WFP-led initiative agreed upon with North Korea, aiming to improve the quality of life for children under seven and women in North Korea.

The aid includes about 9,000 tons of nutrition-enhancing food for infants and pregnant or nursing women at childcare centers and kindergartens in 60 counties across nine provinces in North Korea as part of the "Nutrition Support Project," and 3,600 tons of corn, soybeans, and cooking oil for 26,500 North Korean residents participating in employment projects under the "Food Resources" program.

This is the fourth time the government has provided support for North Korean infants and women through WFP, following previous aid in 2014 (7 million dollars), 2015 (2.1 million dollars), and 2019 (4.5 million dollars). The Ministry of Unification said, "Humanitarian cooperation will continue regardless of political or military situations."

Minister of Unification Lee In-young (right) is speaking while presiding over the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of the 6th. On the left is Kim Hyun-jong, Deputy Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House.

Meanwhile, Minister Lee emphasized the need for communication between the two Koreas regarding disaster prevention at the IECC meeting that day. He said, "We express regret over North Korea's unilateral discharge from the Hwanggang Dam," and added, "Although the North may have faced difficulties due to heavy rains, we emphasize that they should have at least notified our side in advance before taking such discharge measures."

He stated, "No matter how difficult the political and military situation between the two Koreas is, minimal communication must be immediately resumed on humanitarian issues and matters directly related to the safety of residents in border areas," adding, "Any communication channel is acceptable, including broadcasts." He continued, "If small cooperation can be achieved starting from disaster and calamity management in border areas, this can serve as a catalyst for greater cooperation between the two Koreas," and urged, "We call on the North to take bold and generous decisions."

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