US "No Plan to Provide COVID-19 Vaccines to North Korea" ... Support Expected Through COVAX

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of State announced that it has no plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea but supports international efforts for humanitarian aid to the country. This is interpreted to mean that while the U.S. will not directly supply vaccines to North Korea, it agrees to vaccine provision to North Korea through COVAX.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson stated on the 14th (local time) in response to inquiries about vaccine provision to North Korea, "We have no plans to provide vaccines to North Korea, but we continue to support international efforts to ensure that critical humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable North Korean people."

A senior U.S. official also told CNN last month that while the U.S. is open to humanitarian aid to North Korea, it has no plans to provide vaccines directly to North Korea.

However, the vaccines that the U.S. has committed to support through COVAX are also expected to be provided to North Korea. The Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, told Voice of America (VOA) that it is correct that North Korea is included among the 92 countries receiving vaccines donated by the U.S. through COVAX. Gavi is the international organization leading COVAX.

According to the State Department’s statement, although the U.S. has no plans to directly supply vaccines to North Korea, it acknowledges that the vaccines it supports will be delivered to North Korea through COVAX.

Meanwhile, during his state visit to Austria, President Moon Jae-in said, "If North Korea agrees, we will actively pursue cooperation for vaccine supply to North Korea," adding, "The U.S. is also actively supporting humanitarian cooperation with North Korea."

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