Private sector aid to North sharply reduced

The Unification Ministry disclosed Thursday that November saw only 900 million won in assistance from private sources to North Korea, a drastic decline to about one-eighth the 7.69 billion won offered in October. Private aid to North Koreans amounted to 5.33 billion won in August and 5.24 billion won in September.

In November, donations came from the Eugene Bell Foundation (546.18 million won), Headquarters for Giving Pharmaceuticals to Children (176.23 million won) and Korea JTS (87.24 million won).

The ministry said it considers the reduced assistance to North Korea as a temporary phenomenon. The number of officials of private aid groups visiting the North in November was 28, in six separate groups, it added.