WFP Secretary-General Visits Korea, Expresses Concern Over North Korea Fertilizer Situation
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] David Beasley, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), visited South Korea.
According to the Ministry of Unification on the 14th, Executive Director Beasley stated during a meeting with Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se that “humanitarian aid to North Korea will be pursued regardless of political or military issues.”
Minister Kwon met with Executive Director Beasley in his office that morning and said, "The government would like to clearly reaffirm once again that it will continuously strive for humanitarian cooperation concerning North Korea’s food situation, regardless of the political or military circumstances."
Minister Kwon added, "We appreciate WFP’s dedicated efforts to improve North Korea’s food situation so far, and we ask that you continue to pay close attention to North Korean issues."
In response, Executive Director Beasley expressed concern, saying, "The entire world is not free from conflicts, climate change, droughts and floods, COVID-19, and the Ukraine crisis. Especially the fertilizer situation will be a significant problem for North Korea." He continued, "I hope that North Korea’s COVID-19 situation improves and that the current sanctions on North Korea are eased so that WFP’s projects can resume. Through this, I expect that we will be able to provide the necessary food to all children and families in North Korea."
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He also expressed hope to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Unification. Although WFP has been conducting food aid and nutrition support projects for North Korea, it has been unable to provide food aid since March last year due to North Korea closing its borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The WFP Pyongyang office staff have also withdrawn. He said, "The Republic of Korea was once a beneficiary country of WFP but has now become a donor country, which is a very remarkable success story," and added, "South Korea’s determination to provide food to all children on the Korean Peninsula is worthy of respect."
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