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| Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks during a briefing on current affairs to lawmakers of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
South Korea plans to increase food and medical aid to North Korea through international agencies to support the North Korean people who are facing severe food shortages, the unification ministry said Tuesday.
In a hearing at the National Assembly, the ministry said it needed to consult with global agencies such as the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization on giving aid to help the North Korean people. It cited a joint report by the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that showed more than 10 million North Koreans were in urgent need of food.
"The government plans to decide when and how much additional aid to provide to the North based on the outcome of sending an initial 50,000 tons of rice," Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said during a meeting of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Tuesday. The joint report estimated the North will need 1.36 million tons of grain this year to cover its food deficit.
"Adding to the measure, the government will consider giving additional donations to global aid agencies."
He also said aid to Pyongyang will remain independent from political and security matters.
His remarks came after the government has approved several projects to support the North indirectly in the wake of the international community's growing concern on the worsening food situation there amid a drought which would make the situation worse.
The administration donated $8 million to the WFP and UNICEF, June 11, for food shipments, maternal and child healthcare, and nutrition programs in the North. The government also plans to send rice to the North through the WFP as early as this week.
Observers say the humanitarian aid may play a critical role in restarting stalled talks between the two Koreas.
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