[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea, which has virtually rejected the South Korean government's proposal for working-level talks on humanitarian support for COVID-19, is drawing attention to whether there will be a change in its stance around the South Korea-US summit scheduled for the 21st.
Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se attended the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 17th and responded to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
According to the Ministry of Unification on the 20th, North Korea had not responded for four days as of the previous day to South Korea's proposal for working-level talks on COVID-19 quarantine cooperation.
On the 19th, North Korea made no mention of the notification letter related to North Korea during the 9 a.m. opening call and the 5 p.m. closing call through the inter-Korean liaison office channel.
Although the Ministry of Unification attempted to send a notification letter on the morning of the 16th through the liaison office, addressed to Kim Yong-chol, head of the United Front Department, from Minister Kwon Young-se, North Korea has not disclosed whether it received the letter for four days.
The notification letter stated the willingness to provide vaccines, medicines, masks, diagnostic tools, and to carry out technical cooperation such as sharing South Korea's quarantine experience with North Korea.
However, the National Intelligence Service, the intelligence agency, judges this as a virtual rejection. The NIS reported to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee the previous day, saying, "The priority for receiving external support is China first, then international organizations, and the US and South Korea would be last," and added, "There has been no official response yet to the medicines offered by South Korea, and we believe this is effectively a rejection."
Nevertheless, the government is still keeping various possibilities open. The government plans to consider indirect support through international organizations if North Korea refuses. Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se said at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee that when asked if North Korea's silence meant rejection, "I do not necessarily see it that way," and added, "We offered to deliver such a notification letter on the 16th, but we have not yet received a response."
In diplomatic circles, it is reported that the South Korea-US summit scheduled for the 21st will include discussions between the two leaders on North Korea's COVID-19 situation, raising the possibility of dialogue involving humanitarian aid among South Korea, North Korea, and the US.
While South Korea and the US plan to take a tough stance focusing on North Korea's denuclearization, humanitarian aid and diplomatic options remain possible.
Accordingly, it is expected that North Korea will decide after the South Korea-US summit whether to engage in military provocations, accept humanitarian aid, or resume dialogue.
Meanwhile, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 20th that the number of suspected COVID-19 fever patients nationwide in North Korea has exceeded 2 million since the end of last month.
According to statistics from North Korea's National Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters reported by the agency on the same day, the number of fever patients nationwide from the end of last month until the afternoon of the previous day was approximately 2,241,610. This means that the cumulative number of fever patients surpassed 2 million just eight days after North Korea publicly acknowledged the occurrence of COVID-19 on the 12th.
Additionally, the cumulative death toll so far has been counted at 65.
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