“Searching for humanitarian cooperation tasks (North Korea) is also meaningful” (In-Young Lee, Minister of Unification)
“North Korea’s extremely strict response to Corona 19 hinders humanitarian aid efforts” (US Department of State)
In response to the South Korean Unification Minister’s proposal to expand humanitarian aid to North Korea, the US State Department replied that it is an obstacle for North Korea to block and control its borders with COVID-19 quarantine measures. This means that the international community, including the United States, are ready to send various humanitarian goods to North Korea, but North Korea itself is blocking them.
In an interview with the British Financial Times reported on the 26th, Unification Minister Lee In-young said, “We need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of sanctions that have been strengthened by the United States since 2016.” “Is the sanctions positively contributing to the successful North Korean denuclearization process?” I think it’s time to see if it’s not.”
According to Free Asia Broadcasting (RFA) on the 28th (local time), the US State Department said, “North Korea is taking extremely strict responses to Corona 19, including border closure measures for international air and ships.”This significantly hinders efforts by humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, and countries that have received rapid sanctions exemption from the United Nations Sanctions Commission on North Korea to deliver supplies to North Korea.”Said. In an interview with the British Financial Times (FT), Minister Lee In-young commented on his proposal to review the effects of sanctions on North Korea and increase humanitarian aid to North Korea. In the interview, Minister Lee said, “For five years, strong (North Korea) sanctions have been made, and now it is time to see whether or not the sanctions positively contribute to the successful North Korean denuclearization process.” “Expanding or expanding exceptions to humanitarian (North Korea) aid. “You need to be flexible.”
In this regard, the US State Department emphasized that “the United States has been advocating efforts to protect and promote the human rights and dignity of North Koreans, especially the vulnerable, for decades.” Apart from sanctions related to North Korea’s nuclear development, humanitarian aid for the universal human rights of the North Korean people has been and will continue. The US State Department also included in the comment that “the United States has been leading efforts to streamline the humanitarian sanctions exemption process of the United Nations Sanctions Committee on North Korea.”
The U.S. State Department’s comments are summarized in the argument that North Korea must lift the blockade in order to expand humanitarian aid to North Korea. In fact, North Korea has virtually blocked its borders for over a year as part of the COVID-19 quarantine. It is a common view of North Korean experts that the lives of North Koreans are becoming increasingly difficult with the supply of external materials stopped. An official from the Czech Embassy in North Korea said on the 10th through Free Asia Broadcasting. “I haven’t been able to find sugar and cooking oil at all in North Korea for several months.” “Coffee toothpaste, as well as locally grown vegetables and fruits, have risen dramatically.”Said.
Even in such a situation, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is in the shape of holding the reins, emphasizing corona 19 quarantine as a top priority policy. Chairman Kim instructed at the second plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Labor Party that “take new measures to ensure that the National Emergency Defense Command maintains the greatest tension and awareness, and establishes strong quarantine rules throughout the country.”
Reporter Jeong Jin-woo [email protected]
