"North Korea's Vaccine Supply Cooperation" Says Moon... US Also Supports "Humanitarian Cooperation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Austria (Vienna) = Joint Press Corps - (Seoul) = Reporters Yuin-ho and Lee Ji-eun] The United States responded positively to President Moon Jae-in's announcement that he would actively pursue cooperation in supplying vaccines to North Korea, expressing support for efforts aimed at humanitarian aid. As attention turns to whether North Korea will engage in dialogue triggered by vaccine support, experts predict that it may take a long time before actual cooperation is realized.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said on the 14th (local time), "We do not plan to provide vaccines to North Korea, but we continue to support international efforts to ensure that critical humanitarian aid is delivered to the most vulnerable North Korean residents." This is interpreted to mean that the situation could change depending on North Korea's future stance.

Earlier, President Moon stated at a joint press conference during the Korea-Austria summit held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, "If North Korea agrees, we will actively pursue cooperation in supplying vaccines to North Korea." President Moon added, "If Korea plays the role of a global vaccine hub, North Korea will naturally be a partner in cooperation," and emphasized, "Only when developing and low-income countries receive vaccinations equitably can the entire world be freed from COVID-19."

President Moon's proposal is an extension of his suggestion last September for North Korea to participate in the Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Body. This stems from the recognition that North Korea's participation is essential for disease control in the Northeast Asia region. It is also interpreted as an effort to ease the deadlock in inter-Korean dialogue and promote North Korea-U.S. talks through vaccine cooperation. President Moon expressed, "I expect North Korea's positive response," and stressed, "If inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation expand, it will play a virtuous cycle role in promoting North Korea-U.S. dialogue."

Even if North Korea evaluates the proposal positively, it is expected to take time before substantive cooperation occurs. Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said, "North Korea will assess President Moon's sincerity, but considering the current inter-Korean relations, it will take some time before actual cooperation," adding, "There is also a possibility that North Korea will first cooperate with China on vaccines."

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