Envoy says U.S. will 'reevaluate' ban on travel for humanitarian aid to Pyongyang: Yonhap

By Lim Chang-won Posted : December 20, 2018, 07:59 Updated : December 20, 2018, 07:59

[Yonhap News Photo]


SEOUL -- The United States will "reevaluate" its ban on American citizens' travel to North Korea early next year to facilitate aid groups' delivery of humanitarian assistance to the communist state, a U.S. nuclear envoy said.

Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative on North Korea policy, made the remarks as Seoul is seeking to create fresh momentum in dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang amid a perceived lack of progress in their nuclear negotiations.

"We still prioritize the safety and security of Americans as we review the requests for travel, and we will continue to expect humanitarian aid organizations to be international standards for access in monitoring of their programs," he told reporters upon arrival at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.

"However, we also believe conditions are right for us to reevaluate how these policies are implemented, and we plan to do so early next year," he added. His prepared statement apparently signaled that the U.S. wants to keep its diplomacy with the North alive after it stepped up pressure on the reclusive state through sanctions and accusations of human rights violations.

Biegun said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has directed him to review Washington's policy on humanitarian assistance to the North by private and religious U.S. aid groups. He also noted that aid groups operating in the North are concerned that the strict enforcement of sanctions has "occasionally impeded the delivery of legitimate humanitarian assistance."

"I will be sitting down with American aid groups early in the new year to discuss how we can better ensure the delivering of the appropriate assistance, particularly through the course of the coming winter," he said.

"We will also review American citizens' travel to the DPRK for the purpose of facilitating the delivery of aid and ensuring that monitoring in line with international standards can occur," he added. His remarks apparently signaled that the U.S. wants to keep its diplomacy with the North alive after it stepped up pressure on the reclusive state through sanctions and accusations of human rights violations.
(Yonhap)
기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기