By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The government Tuesday expressed its determination to send food aid to famine-hit North Korea.
``North Koreans are suffering from food shortages. We will not turn our back on this and we plan to actively help them,''
Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong said at a seminar to mark the 60th anniversary of the nation's founding in Seoul.
In his keynote speech, Kim said that Seoul will cooperate with Pyongyang once the reclusive state responds to calls for discussions. The event was hosted by the Korea Institute for National Unification.
``Furthermore, I expect to solve all humanitarian issues in a comprehensive manner through inter-Korean talks,'' the minister said.
The U.N. World Food Program (WFP), which conducted on-site surveys of the North's food situation, urged Seoul on Aug. 20 to join a $60-million assistance project for the famine-hit country.
Kim has yet to detail when and how to help the Stalinist state but the ministry's spokesman, Kim Ho-nyoun, a day earlier said the government is considering whether to send food assistance to the North directly or via local civic groups or international organizations such as the WFP.
The minister expressed hope for the resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation, pointing out Pyongyang's misunderstanding about President Lee Myung-bak's North Korea policy of ``Vision 3000.''
The plan to provide conditional economic assistance over the next 10 years with the purpose of helping boost its per capita income to $3,000 has invited criticism from Pyongyang.
``North Korea is reluctant to follow our policy because it is mistaken that Seoul would begin economic cooperation after its nuclear facilities are completely disabled,'' the minister said. ``But we will gradually help the North achieve economic development in line with nuclear disablement.''
Explaining the Lee administration's North Korea polices for ``mutual benefits and common prosperity,'' Kim vowed to take heed of advice and criticism from citizens.
On the North Korean nuclear issue, he stressed that collaboration with the international society is necessary to resolve the problem.
``Basically, the two Koreas have to make an effort to solve inter-Korean issues by themselves but there are many things which require cooperation from other countries,'' he said. ``Support from the international community became more important since the nuclear issue emerged.''