In response to South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young’s remarks by the US State Department that “if the lives of North Koreans have become difficult due to sanctions,” it pointed out that it is North Korea’s policy to hinder external aid. The United States says it has taken the lead in helping the vulnerable, and says North Korea is not accepting humanitarian aid even if it has been promptly approved. Reporter Bae Sung-won reports.
The State Department made it clear that it was not because of sanctions, but because of the policies of the North Korean regime that made North Koreans suffer.
An official from the Office of the State Department’s spokesman said on the 26th that when asked by the VOA whether they agree with South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young’s remarks that “sanctions made life difficult for North Koreans,” North Korea’s excessive measures to quarantine coronavirus infections were the problem.
[국무부 관계자] “The DPRK has implemented an extremely stringent COVID-19 response, including by closing its borders to international flights and shipments. These severe measures have significantly hindered the efforts of humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, and other countries to deliver aid to those most in need after they received swift exemptions from the 1718 Committee.”
The official said, “North Korea has implemented extremely stringent measures to respond to coronavirus infections, including border closures for international air and transportation.” “These stringent measures have greatly hampered the efforts of humanitarian agencies, UN agencies, and other countries to provide assistance to those in need, after prompt approval of sanctions waiver from the 1718 Committee.”
The North Korean regime rejected 50,000 tons of rice that the South Korean government decided to support through the World Food Organization and WFP last year, before the start of the coronavirus infection crisis. The South Korean government, which was initially considering direct support, chose a detour support method through international organizations when North Korea refused to consult, but even this was defeated.
In an interview with the British Financial Times (FT), which was released on the 26th, Minister Lee In-young said, “It was not the purpose of sanctions, but as a result, if the lives of (North Korea) residents become difficult, how will we improve these points?” It seems that the time has come to be pointed out.”
Minister Lee also mentioned prolonged sanctions against North Korea, new coronavirus infection, typhoon damage, flood damage, etc. “Deny that the humanitarian crisis centered on North Koreans in the course of ongoing economic difficulties, and the possibilities are increasing. It is difficult”.
However, a State Department official said the United States has been making every effort to help the vulnerable in North Korea and made it clear that the crisis that North Koreans face is not due to external factors.
“The United States has been advocating for decades efforts to protect and improve the human rights and dignity of North Koreans, especially the most vulnerable,” said the official.
[국무부 관계자] “For decades the United States has championed efforts to protect and improve the human rights and dignity of North Koreans, particularly members of the most vulnerable populations.”
Specifically, he stated, “As part of our ongoing work, we have been leading efforts by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea, or the 1718 Committee, to streamline the sanctions waiver process for humanitarian aid.” “This includes support for coronavirus infections, extending the validity period of sanctions waiver approvals, and revising guidelines to make the process of applying for sanctions waiver for humanitarian organizations easier.”
[국무부 관계자] “As part of our ongoing work, we have led efforts to streamline the process for humanitarian sanctions exemptions at the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee, the UN 1718 Committee, including expediting processing for COVID-19-related assistance, extending the validity of exemption approvals , and revising guidelines to help humanitarian organizations more easily navigate the exemption application process.”
In addition, he said, “we continue to be committed to reviewing the UN’s request for exemption from humanitarian assistance as quickly as possible.”
[국무부 관계자] “We are committed to continuing to review UN humanitarian exemption applications as quickly as possible.”
However, he urged that the distribution of aid should be prevented through thorough distribution monitoring, not unconditional support. “The international community must continue to adhere to reliable and transparent monitoring, evaluation, access, and supervision consistent with internationally recognized best practices to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to the most vulnerable North Koreans.”
[국무부 관계자] “The international community must also continue to insist on credible and transparent monitoring and evaluation, access, and oversight, consistent with internationally recognized best practices to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable North Koreans.”
In the meantime, the U.S. government has put forward the principle of assistance to consider how much assistance the country is in desperate need, to compare it to the circumstances of other countries in need, and to consider whether aid is being delivered to its residents as intended.
The Biden administration announced on the 4th that it would separate the North Korean regime from the North Korean regime to establish a policy, and for the first time since its inauguration, it will ensure that relief efforts to the people are not affected.
At the time, an official from the State Department’s spokesman office told the VOA, “Even if we oppose regimes like North Korea, we support efforts to alleviate the suffering of North Koreans. We are working hard to take action in a way that does not harm North Koreans, and North Korea is willing to If accepted, I continue to support international efforts aimed at providing significant humanitarian aid.”
As the new US administration has expressed its support for humanitarian aid to North Korea, the opacity and abuse of humanitarian aid is resurfacing in Washington.
The core of the criticism is that, instead of benefiting the vulnerable class, a program to support North Korea, promoted in good faith, provides a margin for the regime’s arms increase budget and strengthens control over the distribution system, hindering the market economy.
Lee Jung-ho, a former member of the Labor Party’s Room 39, said in a recent phone call with the VOA, “I have witnessed the divergence of aid supplies several times while on a business trip to the province.”
[녹취: 리정호 씨] “I have witnessed several scenes of stealing food from North Korea for humanitarian aid. If there is an international watchdog monitoring, the North Korean authorities take the extravagant action of supplying the aided food to the residents, and mobilizing military vehicles to reload it when the watchdog leaves. At that time, the residents sweared and raged behind them for taking food and taking it away. Another time, I saw dozens of military vehicles in Wonsan Port clearing their military license plates and carrying humanitarian aid food from ships to the military, disguised as general social vehicles. At the time, I didn’t understand why military cars erased license plates. But now, it seems that the international community is not allowed to provide food aid to the North Korean military.”
In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden last month, Secretary General Greg Scalatyu of the Human Rights Commission of the United States said, “Sufficient monitoring must be provided to ensure that support is provided to the vulnerable groups who need humanitarian aid most, such as women, children and inmates. ”
In addition, “humanitarian aid must be linked to the promotion of human rights in North Korea,” he said. “When providing humanitarian aid and development support to the North Korean government, it includes freedom of expression, religion, movement, assembly, and conscience, including arbitrary detention and liberation from torture. It must be based on the measures taken to protect the rights of citizens.”
“I have been supporting North Korea for a long time,” said Susan Scholti, head of the North Korean Freedom Federation. “Otherwise, aid will be used as a weapon targeting North Koreans.”
This is VOA News, Baek Sungwon