Trump administration grants sanctions relief for humanitarian aid to N. Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un holds a meeting in the Demilitarized Zone seperating the two Koreas, June 30, 2019. AFP-Yonhap

The U.N. Security Council's sanctions committee has approved exemptions for 17 humanitarian aid projects to North Korea, sources said Friday, in a U.S.-backed move amid the Donald Trump administration's push to reengage with Pyongyang.

The decision allows the resumption of aid projects that have been suspended since the first half of last year. It is widely viewed as an olive branch from the United States, as speculation grows that Trump may seek a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to China in April.

The South Korean government welcomed the decision by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) Sanctions Committee on North Korea, which oversees sanctions on Pyongyang.

"The government has maintained that humanitarian assistance to North Korea should continue regardless of the political situation, and in line with that position, we have made various efforts to ensure that such aid can be delivered smoothly. We hope there will be a positive response this time," a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

The development came hours after a senior South Korean official expressed anticipation of "some new progress in a few days" regarding North Korea-related issues during a briefing with reporters in Washington.

The official signaled the upcoming move could serve as a starting point in reengaging with Pyongyang, but stopped short of directly linking it to a resumption of Trump-Kim talks.

According to sources, the 17 humanitarian projects that have received exemptions consist of five run by South Korean local governments and civic groups, eight by international organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and four by nongovernmental organizations from the United States and other countries.

Of the five projects involving South Korea, three are led by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and two by civic groups.

The projects are largely focused on health care, clean water and sanitation, and nutritional support.

Gaepung County, North Hwanghae Province, North Korea, is seen from an observatory in Incheon, Jan. 11. Yonhap

The UNSC Sanctions Committee on North Korea was established by UNSC resolution 1718 after Pyongyang’s first nuclear test. It oversees sanctions on the country, and exemptions for humanitarian assistance require approval from all 15 council members.

The U.S., a permanent UNSC member, has often slowed or blocked such approvals, citing concerns that aid materials could be diverted for military purposes or used to support the regime's nuclear programs.

Against this backdrop, the U.N.'s latest move to approve exemptions on 17 projects suggests a partial shift in Washington's stance. It could also be interpreted as an effort to create diplomatic room for U.S.-North Korea dialogue.

However, it remains unclear whether North Korea, which has rejected dialogue with South Korea or the U.S. in recent years, will respond. Many humanitarian aid projects that had previously received exemptions were stalled due to a lack of response from Pyongyang.

Some observers say the U.S.' decision to grant the exemptions may have been influenced by Seoul, as it coincided with high-level diplomatic engagements.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is visiting Washington, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time), where the two sides reportedly exchanged in-depth views on North Korea-related issues.