Seoul to give North Korea US$8 million aid despite hostilities
South Korean humanitarian aid efforts to North Korea had been halted since North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January last year
South Korea approved a plan on Thursday to send $8 million worth of humanitarian aid to North Korea, the South’s Unification Ministry said, as part of an aid policy that the government says remains unaffected by geopolitical tensions with the North.
The aid decision was made after a meeting of government officials chaired by Unification Minister Cho Myong-gyon. It comes after the United Nations approved new sanctions against North Korea for its sixth nuclear test earlier this month.
The South said it aims to send $4.5 million worth of nutritional products for children and pregnant women through the World Food Programme and $3.5 million worth of vaccines and medicinal treatments through Unicef.
The exact timing of when the aid will be sent, as well as its size, will be confirmed later, the ministry said in a statement.
The WFP and Unicef had approached the South Korean government in May and July this year to contribute in aiding North Korea, the statement added.