Aid to North Korea Last Year Reached Record High at $256.2 Million

The Ministry of Unification said yesterday that the amount of last year’s humanitarian support from South Korea to North Korea hit a record high of $256.2 million.

The amount increased 62.6 percent compared to $157.6 million in 2003. The past record was the rice aid to the North in 1995 worth $232.25 million.

“Last year, the government support amounted to $115.12 million and the support at the private level reached $141.08 million,” said the minister official yesterday. “The increase in the support to the North is in large part influenced by the donation from the people for last year’s train explosion at the Yongcheon station.”

Hyong-gwon Pu bookum90@donga.com