Kwon Young-se "Will Keep the Door Wide Open to Help Protect the Life and Health Rights of North Korean Residents"

Minister Kwon: "Not a Political Consideration... A Heart That Cares for and Watches Over North Korean Residents"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 30th, Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification, stated, "We will always keep the door of assistance wide open to protect the right to life and health of North Korean residents."

Minister Kwon made this remark during the opening address at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Korea Peninsula Health and Medical Cooperation Platform held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul that afternoon.

Regarding support for North Korean residents, Minister Kwon emphasized, "It is the responsibility of the Republic of Korea, a liberal democratic country, to uphold the universal human rights of humanity." This reaffirmed the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's position that North Korea's nuclear and missile development is separate from support for North Korean residents.

However, Minister Kwon mentioned that concerning the government's public offer of cooperation on COVID-19 prevention?including vaccines, medicines, medical equipment, and health personnel?to North Korea since the outbreak in May, "North Korea did not respond to our proposal and showed no reaction despite repeated offers of support from the international community."

He continued, "Even amid the global pandemic, health cooperation between the South and the North does not seem easy," and expressed, "Our government's firm principle of being open to humanitarian support and cooperation stems from a sincere concern and care for the residents living in North Korea, not from political considerations or targets."

He particularly expressed concern about the medical situation in North Korea, where, entering the third year since the COVID-19 lockdown, tuberculosis patients cannot obtain medicine, and the vaccination rate for children has sharply declined.

Minister Kwon stated, "The most necessary aid must reach the most desperate people as quickly as possible," and added, "We hope that the North Korean authorities will respond to our sincere proposal with genuine concern for the North Korean residents."

He also urged North Korea to respond to the South Korean government's proposals, saying, "Since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, we have repeatedly emphasized that humanitarian aid to North Korea will be consistently maintained without political or military considerations in inter-Korean relations."

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