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S. Korea loosens restrictions for aid donors to N. Korea

April 22, 2015

Kim Jong-un (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — South Korea said Wednesday that it has eased donor eligibility requirements to facilitate private groups’ humanitarian aid to North Korea amid lingering inter-Korean tension.

Seoul’s ministry on inter-Korean affairs unveiled the decision to open more doors for the participation of private organizations at a time when the government’s assistance to the North has stalled following the 2010 deadly warship sinking.

“Easing of the standards will help more non-government agencies increase aid to North Korea in such areas as maternal and child health care, agriculture and forestation,” said Lim Byeong-cheol, spokesman at the unification ministry, at a press briefing.

Previously, hopeful private organizations had to prove that they were maintaining stable relations with their North Korean counterparts and had a solid track record of humanitarian assistance. The practice effectively blocked new agencies from being designated as aid donors.

The new move will allow private groups with no history of assistance to the North to join the drive to help cope with North Korea’s severe food shortage and other challenges.

The government said it will continue to comprehensively take into account the qualifications of hopeful donors in a transparent manner.

Inter-Korean relations have been strained as the North has not responded to Seoul’s offer for dialogue, citing the ongoing joint military exercise between Seoul and Washington.

Inter-Korean exchanges have also been suspended since 2010 when Seoul imposed the May 24 Measure that bans economic and cultural exchanges with North Korea as a punishment for the North’s torpedoing of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010.

New Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo told reporters Friday that Seoul will spur efforts to lead more private groups to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea.

Meanwhile, Lim said that Seoul plans to provide necessary support to foreign activists who hope to walk across the heavily fortified inter-Korean border if North Korea approves their plan.

About 30 female activists from around the world, including U.S. activist Gloria Steinem and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire from Ireland, plan to march from the North to the South across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that bisects the two Koreas to mark the May 24 International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament.

Crossing the inter-Korean border requires approval from the two Koreas and the United Nations Command.

“If the North’s nod is confirmed, the Seoul government will offer cooperation on the basis of the truce treaty and precedents,” Lim said.

They said the purpose of the DMZ crossing is to express hope that Korean families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War will be united someday and military tension between the two Koreas can be reduced. They also hope to ultimately end the division and replace the 1953 Armistice Agreement with a permanent peace treaty.

Seoul has delivered a letter to an organizer reading that the South Korean government understands the activists’ intent, but there should be sufficient considerations to check security, Lim added.