Moon Jae-in meets the Pope's envoy and authorizes humanitarian aid to the North
The South Korean President met with Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, with a message to Pope Francis. The new administration has authorized some civil and religious organizations to prepare aid that will be sent to the North. Events confirmed by AsiaNews sources
Seoul (AsiaNews) - South Korean President Moon Jae-in was informed by the Vatican's special envoy of his recent meeting with Pope Francis. The meeting was official complete with a photo-op, before a meeting of the presidential office.
A few hours after US President Donald Trump's visit to the Vatican, Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong delivered a letter to Pope Francis, where the new President of South Korea reiterated his will to dialogue for peace with the North without external mediators, despite the continued provocations of his counterpart Kim Jong-un,.
Hyginus Kim Hee-joong came home after a seven-day trip to the Holy See, during which he met with the pontiff twice, as emphasized by Moon. Hyginus Kim Hee-joong said the Pope expressed a deep interest in South Korea and the local church. Pope Francis invited Moon to come to the Vatican where he will always be welcome. It emerged that in his letter Catholic Moon had also asked the pontiff to pray for South Korea to improve relations with the communist North. South Korea and the Vatican established diplomatic ties in 1963, but Hyginus Kim Hee-joong is the first envoy for the South Korean president to the Vatican in memory.
Moon is committed to the delicate mission of reopening a diplomatic channel with North Korea. In the search for dialogue with Pyongyang, he decided to take advantage of the cooperation of humanitarian and religious organizations, authorizing them in their projects of aid to the North. The decision is confirmed by AsiaNews sources, in clear discontinuity with the closure adopted by the conservative government of predecessor Park Geun Hye, who was dismissed and fined for serious corruption.
Unauthorized contacts with North Koreans or visits to the North are punishable with prison also in the South. But the Unification Ministry has recently given green light to the first humanitarian aid projects. The only limit is the international sanctions against North Korea which cannot be overturned. "The government's position will remain flexible in handling humanitarian aid exchanges while the international sanctions against the North’s regime is in place," said Minister Lee Eugene's spokesperson. Emergencies facing the population of the North include the spread of malaria in the territories of the border, in order to prevent the spread of infected mosquitoes to the south.
New Chief of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said it is necessary to seek "more powerful" sanctions against North Korea in the event that the regime carry out further provocations. However, he also remarked, "It is a universal principle to provide humanitarian aid when human beings are suffering." Kang, who has worked at the United Nations for about 10 years, was asked if he believes that humanitarian aid to the North should be provided despite the continued provocations and nuclear aspirations of Pyongyang. He responded "yes," adding that it is in line with the spirit of United Nations values to extend the help to "those who need it".
Moon Jae-in is gaining authority at home and internationally also for the sober and civil rights character that he has introduced in his administration. In fact, it has not been unnoticed that the new South Korean President has decided to pay his own expenses for his family instead of taking these from the presidential budget and that the money saved will be used to create jobs and help the marginalized. Public opinion has also been moved by the launch of the human rights campaign, aimed at the police authority. Moon said he wants to seriously consider the reports of Korea's National Human Rights Commission. An activity that was considered pure formalities by previous administrations.
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