Government Decides on $10 Million Support to North Korea... "Transfer to WFP Next Week" (Comprehensive)

Support for Infants and Pregnant Women if Donated to WFP
Ministry of Unification: "Humanitarian Cooperation Is Separate from Politics and Military"
Minister Lee In-young Expresses "Regret" over North Korea's Unauthorized Release from Hwanggang Dam

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is speaking while presiding over the South-North Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council at the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 6th.

The government has decided to provide humanitarian aid worth 10 million USD to North Korea through the World Food Programme (WFP). The 10 million USD, to be provided as a cash contribution, is expected to be transferred to the WFP as early as next week. The main beneficiaries are nutritionally vulnerable groups such as infants, young children, and pregnant women in North Korea.

On the 6th, the government held the 316th Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council (IECC) meeting and reviewed and approved a plan to support WFP’s North Korean infant and women support project with 10 million USD (approximately 11.9 billion KRW) from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund. This is the first decision on aid to North Korea since Minister of Unification Lee In-young took office.

This contribution was initially planned for approval in June, but was postponed due to the deterioration of inter-Korean relations following North Korea’s demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "This support is in response to a request from the WFP," and added, "We decided to provide support based on the judgment that it will contribute to improving the humanitarian situation of infants and women, the most vulnerable groups in North Korea."

This project support takes the form of the government partially contributing to a project that the WFP is implementing in agreement with North Korea, aiming to improve the quality of life for children under seven and women in North Korea.

The project includes the "Nutrition Support Project," which provides approximately 9,000 tons of nutritional supplements to infants and young children in childcare centers and kindergartens, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers in 60 counties across nine provinces in North Korea, and the "Food Resources" project, which supplies 3,600 tons of corn, soybeans, and cooking oil to 26,500 North Korean residents participating in public work projects.

Of the total 10 million USD, 8 million USD will be allocated to the Nutrition Support Project, and the remaining 2 million USD will be invested in the Food Resources project through public work initiatives.

The food support through public work projects is a new form of aid provided by the government. It involves providing food as compensation to North Korean residents who participate in rural infrastructure construction and restoration projects aimed at disaster prevention. It is essentially a type of public labor project. A Ministry of Unification official explained, "Priority will be given to selecting participants who are female heads of households and residents with vulnerable household members such as the elderly and disabled."

Once the 10 million USD is transferred to the WFP, the WFP will purchase the necessary supplies for North Korean aid through its own procurement procedures and transport them to North Korea. This process is known to take about four months. It is expected that the supplies and funds will reach the North Korean population by early next year.

A Ministry of Unification official stated, "The WFP will operate a tracking system for the supplies from the moment they arrive at North Korean ports until they are delivered to the residents," and added, "Reports will basically be made to the government quarterly, and the WFP Seoul office will regularly consult on progress."

This is the fourth time the government has provided support for North Korean infants and women through the WFP, following previous aid in 2014 (7 million USD), 2015 (2.1 million USD), and 2019 (4.5 million USD). The Ministry of Unification said, "Humanitarian cooperation will continue regardless of political or military situations." A ministry official also said, "The government plans to continue consultations and provide necessary support for other projects such as those with UNICEF this year."

Regarding the 50,000 tons of rice that the government tried to provide through the WFP last year but North Korea refused, a Ministry of Unification official said, "It is currently on temporary hold, and the contribution funds have not yet been recovered."

Minister of Unification Lee In-young (right) is speaking while presiding over the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council at the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 6th. On the left is Kim Hyun-jong, Deputy Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House.

Meanwhile, Minister of Unification Lee In-young emphasized the need for inter-Korean communication regarding flood damage at the IECC meeting that day. He said, "We express regret over North Korea’s unilateral decision to release water from the Hwanggang Dam," and added, "Although the North side must have faced difficulties due to heavy rains, we emphasize that they should have at least given prior notice to our side before taking such measures."

He stated, "No matter how difficult the political and military situation between the two Koreas is, minimal communication between the two sides must be immediately resumed on humanitarian issues and matters directly related to the safety of residents in border areas," and added, "Any communication channel is acceptable, including broadcasts."

He continued, "If small cooperation can be achieved in disaster and accident management in border areas, this can serve as a catalyst for greater cooperation between the two Koreas," and urged, "We call on the North side to take bold and generous decisions."