S. Korean humanitarian aid to N. Korea builds momentum

After the two Koreas’ agreement on reopening the inter-Korean industrial park in Kaesong eased the strained relations, humanitarian aid from the South to the impoverished North is gaining speed.

The Korea National Red Cross announced Friday that it will provide the flood-hit North Korea with 100,000 U.S. dollars to help flood victims in the communist country in accordance with a request from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to participate in supporting the North. It would be the first time for the South Korean Red Cross agency to send relief to the North since October 2010. As the agency is under the South Korean government, the plan suggests a change in Seoul’s attitude toward providing aid to the North.

The government also plans to discuss humanitarian aid at a working-level Red Cross contact scheduled for August 23. As the North requested assistance at previous Red Cross talks, it is possible for Seoul to negotiate with Pyongyang on providing the North with food aid together with relief materials in the name of flood aid.

South Korean nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are also accelerating their aid to the North. Since Seoul approved assistance to the North by five civic groups and the UNICEF for North Korea children and those in need, five additional NGOs have requested approval. Including four NGOs whose request for approval of aid to the North have been deferred, a total of nine NGOs are waiting for government approval.

The United Nations, which sends aids to the North via the UNICEF and the World Food Program, issued a statement Thursday urging the international community to join assistance to North Korea, after Seoul proposed that the two Koreas hold reunions of families separated by the Korean War.

“As the (South Korean) government is taking gestures of improving relations with the North, domestic and international groups, which have been concerned that their aid plans would be rejected by Seoul, will likely make a flood of request for approval of their humanitarian aid to the communist state.

Meanwhile, some express concern that a rush of assistance from the South Korean government and NGOs could lead to unilateral favors offered to the North. “It is a little too early to approve additional aid less than one month after approving humanitarian assistance to the North,” a South Korean government official said. “The speed should be controlled overall in consideration of flood assistance and other aid.”

A North Korea expert commented, “Providing hundreds of thousands of tons of food aid would inevitably interpreted as reflecting political purposes. Providing small but steady aid in consultation with civic groups would be more effective, and (Seoul) should take measures to ensure the monitoring of distribution (of aid material) within North Korea.”