US State Department: "North Korea's Strict COVID-19 Measures Hinder Aid to the North"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The U.S. Department of State stated regarding the recent remarks by Minister of Unification Lee In-young, who mentioned the need to review sanctions against North Korea, that "North Korea's extremely stringent response to COVID-19 significantly hinders the international community's humanitarian aid efforts to North Korea."

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 1st, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State responded to a request for comment on Minister Lee's recent statement about the need to review sanctions against North Korea in light of the humanitarian crisis faced by North Korean residents.

The U.S. Department of State explained, "North Korea is implementing extremely stringent measures in response to COVID-19, including border closures on international flights and ships." It added, "This significantly obstructs the efforts of humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, and countries that have received rapid sanction exemptions from the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee to deliver supplies to North Korea."

Furthermore, it emphasized, "The United States has long advocated efforts to protect and promote the human rights and dignity of North Korean residents, especially the most vulnerable groups," and "As part of these efforts, it has led initiatives to streamline the humanitarian sanction exemption process of the North Korea Sanctions Committee."

Earlier, Minister Lee, in an interview with the British daily Financial Times (FT), mentioned the need to enhance flexibility and review sanctions against North Korea, stating, "If the sanctions were not intended to cause hardship but have resulted in difficulties for the residents, how can these issues be improved? At the very least, these points should be clearly evaluated and addressed."