N. Korea receives $2.38 mil. in int'l aid this year, all from Switzerland: data

This photo shows UNICEF workers based in Pyongyang offering voluntary service at a farm in Sariwon in North Korea's North Hwanghae Province, published by the Korean Central News Agency, June 14, 2019. Yonhap

North Korea has received a total of $2.38 million in international aid so far this year, all of it from Switzerland, United Nations data showed Friday.

Switzerland has committed the aid to North Korea for this year, with $1.1 million to be delivered through the U.N. Children's Fund, and the remainder via the Swiss Development Cooperation and Swiss Humanitarian Aid, according to the Financial Tracking Service of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

International aid to North Korea had sharply declined from $41.88 million in 2020 to $13.78 million in 2021, then to $2.31 million in 2022 and $1.49 million in 2023, as the country completely shut its borders and banned the entry of international organization staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the pandemic subsided, international assistance to North Korea slightly recovered last year to reach $2.81 million.

Since August 2023, North Korea has reopened its borders. Subsequently, Sweden reinstated its diplomats to its embassy in North Korea last year, becoming the first Western country to do so since the COVID-19 border closure.

In February, Switzerland appointed a new ambassador to serve in North Korea.