[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The Ministry of Unification stated that North Korea's repeated missile provocations could negatively impact COVID-19 aid to North Korea.
A senior official from the Ministry of Unification reaffirmed the existing position that COVID-19 aid to North Korea will be pursued regardless of political or military situations during a meeting with reporters on the same day, but also expressed concerns. He said, "It is worrisome that unification policy and inter-Korean relations policy cannot be separated from public opinion," adding, "If such provocations continue, public opinion will deteriorate significantly, and we will inevitably have to reflect that in our policies."
Regarding North Korea's show of force by launching three ballistic missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to South Korea and Japan, he said, "(North Korea) seems to want to change the status quo," emphasizing, "From our perspective, such attempts to change the status quo through missile provocations are not changes in a positive direction."
On the morning of the same day, just four days after the South Korea-U.S. summit, North Korea launched a total of three ballistic missiles, including one presumed to be the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-17' and others presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles called the North Korean version of Iskander (KN-23).
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