[FOCUS] Economic aid to N. Korea becomes complicated issue in S. Korea

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 25, 2017, 11:23 Updated : May 25, 2017, 11:23
 

[Yonhap Photo]


Providing rice or economic aid to hungry North Koreans has become a complicated political issue in South Korea as tensions still run high despite high expectations for a new era of engagement and inter-Korean reconciliation pushed by a liberal president in Seoul.

North Korea has long been suspected of diverting foreign aid and economic assistance to war goods or showpiece state projects. Nevertheless, President Moon Jae-in, a former human rights lawyer, pledged a "two-track" approach: tough sanctions against provocations but engagement and dialogue otherwise.

Moon's top security advisor followed suit with calls for a need to resume talks with North Korea on reopening channels of communication such as a hotline which has been set up in the truce village of Panmunjom for emergency contact.

"We will have to try and gradually resume dialogue, starting with working-level talks," said Chung Eui-yong, nominated to head the National Security Office. "I believe we could resume exchanges in various areas, such as personnel, social, cultural and sports, as long as they do not undermine the international framework of sanctions against North Korea."

Chung said Seoul should not reward the nuclear-armed North for provocations while others associated with Moon's administration sent out mixed signals after North Korea angered the international community with ballistic missile launches.

More embarrassing is that Pyongyang showed a lukewarm reaction to peace overtures from Seoul and indicated it would stick to the long-standing policy of bypassing Seoul in negotiations with Washington on sensitive issues such as missiles, nuclear weapons, and a non-aggression accord.

The North's attitude put Moon and aides in an awkward situation, but Kang Kyung-wha, a special advisor on policy to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, gave a clear-cut answer when she returned home Wednesday to work as South Korea's new foreign minister.

"Because it is a universal value to extend humanitarian aid to where human beings are suffering, it should be done regardless of any political considerations," she told reporters. "It's in line with the spirit and principles of the UN, and I think we should do so."

But she stressed that North Korea would face "more powerful sanctions" unless it ceases provocative activities. "I believe more powerful sanctions are needed if there are additional provocations."

Relations were strained in March 2010 when Seoul blamed a North Korean submarine for torpedoing the warship Cheonan. The incident froze cross-border exchanges and trade. In November the same year, the North shelled a front-line island, killing four South Koreans and briefly triggering concerns of a full-scale conflict.

South Korea suspended almost all civilian inter-Korean exchanges since North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January 2016 and turned down Pyongyang's sporadic proposals for dialogue as a deceptive peace overture aimed at diluting an international campaign to curb its nuclear and missile ambitions.

Moon also faces a tough challenge on the domestic front. South Korean state warehouses are packed with surplus rice reserves, but many South Koreans, liberal and conservative, are opposed to the unconditional resumption of rice aid and economic assistance to North Korea.

This month, South Korea started shipping surplus rice to Cambodia and Myanmar following its participation in a food aid program for poor countries in an effort to cope with oversupply and rising stockpiles. That's South Korea's first rice donation to a third country through an international framework.

Rice used to be the centerpiece of South Korea's economic aid to North Korea under liberal ex-residents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, who have pushed for active cross-border engagement. The landmark inter-Korean summit in June 2000 opened an unprecedented era of cross-border reconciliation and cooperation.

Unification Ministry data showed that the amount of cash and products sent to North Korea in terms of aid and trade stood at 2.47 billion US dollars under Kim's five-year rule (1998-2003) and $4.36 billion under Roh's (2003-2008).

The amount fell sharply to $1.98 under the administration of conservative ex-president Lee Myung-bak (2008 and 2013).

Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com


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