Lee In-young "Next Spring Food and Fertilizer Inter-Korean Cooperation... Cannot Ignore North Korean Residents"

"North Korea Helped During the 1984 Seoul Flood"

Minister of Unification Lee In-young is attending the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 26th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee In-young, Minister of Unification, said on the 26th, "Several research institutions and experts predict that a new global food crisis will deepen further," adding, "If necessary, North and South Korea should be able to cooperate in a timely manner through food and fertilizer as early as next spring."

Minister Lee made these remarks in a congratulatory speech at the 'Zero Hunger Innovation Policy Meeting' jointly hosted by the Korea Parliamentary Coalition on Children, Population and Environment (CPE) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). He stated, "We cannot help but think of the North Korean people who are facing economic and livelihood difficulties amid the triple hardships of floods, COVID-19, and sanctions."

He said, "The international community's humanitarian concern and worry about the nutritional status of children, the elderly, pregnant women, and mothers are well understood by our government as well," adding, "The Korean government aims to establish a predictable and stable (inter-Korean) mutual cooperation promotion system."

Minister Lee emphasized, "Inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation should not be a one-sided charitable act but should develop into a 'win-win path' toward a healthier community," recalling "the case in 1984 when Seoul suffered severe flood damage and North Korea provided relief supplies to our disaster victims."

He continued, "To deliver flood relief supplies, North and South Korea met across the Military Demarcation Line, the suspended direct telephone line was reactivated, and many inter-Korean dialogues were held."

Minister Lee stressed, "Throughout the long history of the Korean Peninsula, the people of the North and South have lived as one and remain connected as a community of life and safety," adding, "If North and South Korea achieve joint cooperation in areas such as healthcare including COVID-19, disaster and emergency management, and climate environment, the Korean Peninsula can be reborn as a safer and more secure place to live."