Ministry of Unification: "Two Cases of 'Nutritional Supplies' Exported to North Korea Since Yoon Administration Took Office"

Support Worth 1.2 Billion KRW Provided Through Nutrition and Health Cooperation Project

Ministry of Unification [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The government announced that through the North Korea nutrition and health cooperation policy project implemented from September last year to the 10th of this month, nutrition supplies worth 1.2 billion KRW were delivered to North Korea. There were a total of three cases, two of which were confirmed to have been dispatched after the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

An official from the Ministry of Unification told reporters on the 15th, "The North Korea nutrition and health cooperation policy project, which the government has been promoting since September last year to improve the humanitarian situation of vulnerable groups in North Korea suffering from the spread of COVID-19 and other difficulties, ended on December 10 of this year," explaining this.

He continued, "We decided to provide funding worth 6.73 billion KRW to a total of 14 organizations, among which three organizations dispatched supplies worth 1.2 billion KRW. For funded projects that have not yet been dispatched to North Korea, related discussions are underway to recover the funds," he explained.

Among the three cases of supplies delivered to North Korea, two were carried out after the current government took office. One case proceeded from export approval to actual dispatch after the new government took office, and the other was approved by the previous government but the dispatch was carried out under the new administration, according to the Ministry of Unification.

All three nutrition supply shipments to North Korea were reportedly soybean oil. However, the Ministry of Unification did not disclose specific details such as the names of the private organizations conducting the support projects, the North Korean beneficiaries, or the exact dispatch dates. This is because the nature of inter-Korean support projects may impose restrictions on the activities of private organizations.

The official explained, "Private organizations must submit humanitarian receipt certificates and distribution statements received from the North Korean side to the Ministry of Unification, so the fact that supplies entered North Korea can be confirmed through this." However, it is difficult to officially confirm whether the North Korean authorities are aware of our support.

Meanwhile, the North Korea nutrition and health cooperation policy project provides up to 500 million KRW per project, totaling 10 billion KRW, to private organizations carrying out support projects aimed at improving the humanitarian situation of vulnerable groups in North Korea. Although the government has been accepting applications since September last year, due to strained inter-Korean relations and North Korea’s border closures amid the spread of COVID-19, there were not many organizations meeting the project requirements.

Accordingly, the project period, originally scheduled to end in June this year, was extended until the 10th of this month, resulting in a total of 14 support decisions. The amount totals 6.73 billion KRW, of which approximately 1.64 billion KRW was approved under the current government.

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