Southern aid to Pyongyang “is the last chance before war”
by Joseph Yun Li-sun
A source living near the 38th parallel tells AsiaNews that “Seoul is extending its hand for the last time. Unless the regime in the North behaves, it could see all ties cut or face an open confrontation.” Humanitarian aid worth US$ 5 million is ready for shipment.
Seoul (AsiaNews) – The extended hand of the South Korean government to North Korea “is the last chance Pyongyang has to rebuild ties. If they fail this time as well, the conservative administration of President Lee Myung-bak will break off relations once and for all. And that will be the end, or war,” a source living near the border with North Korea told AsiaNews in connection with Seoul’s latest overture to Kim Jong-il’s dictatorial regime.
Recently, South Korea offered aid worth 5 billion won (US$ 4.7 million) to help North Korea after it was hit by floods that killed dozens of people and caused huge damage, wiping out harvests and destroying infrastructures. The aid, which comes after a thawing in relations between the two sides across the 38th parallel, will be managed by the South Korean Red Cross for “humanitarian reasons”.
Material assistance includes relief aid and medical drugs but not cement and rice, which were sent last summer as part of a 10 billion won aid package Seoul approved following a UN report of famine in North Korea.
Pyongyang has not yet responded to the offer, but its official news agency, KCNA, recently admitted that floods had caused dozens of victims and large-scale damage.
Sources told AsiaNews “that was is happening in the Korea might be the sign of another famine in a country already prostrate by a chronic economic crisis in the absence of food aid from the United States and South Korea.”
Aid was stopped when Pyongyang pulled out of the six-nation talks over its nuclear programme.
North Korea “is burdened by too many factors that came all at once,” the source said. “The South, for its part, is not too keen about handing over money to a dictator. If they [the North Koreans] behave, show readiness to disarm and stop provocations, the dialogue can restart. Otherwise, relations will end or there will be war.”
Recently, South Korea offered aid worth 5 billion won (US$ 4.7 million) to help North Korea after it was hit by floods that killed dozens of people and caused huge damage, wiping out harvests and destroying infrastructures. The aid, which comes after a thawing in relations between the two sides across the 38th parallel, will be managed by the South Korean Red Cross for “humanitarian reasons”.
Material assistance includes relief aid and medical drugs but not cement and rice, which were sent last summer as part of a 10 billion won aid package Seoul approved following a UN report of famine in North Korea.
Pyongyang has not yet responded to the offer, but its official news agency, KCNA, recently admitted that floods had caused dozens of victims and large-scale damage.
Sources told AsiaNews “that was is happening in the Korea might be the sign of another famine in a country already prostrate by a chronic economic crisis in the absence of food aid from the United States and South Korea.”
Aid was stopped when Pyongyang pulled out of the six-nation talks over its nuclear programme.
North Korea “is burdened by too many factors that came all at once,” the source said. “The South, for its part, is not too keen about handing over money to a dictator. If they [the North Koreans] behave, show readiness to disarm and stop provocations, the dialogue can restart. Otherwise, relations will end or there will be war.”
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See also
Tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang rise as Cold War fears cast a shadow over Korea
12/02/2016 15:14
12/02/2016 15:14
Seoul and Pyongyang to restart talks
16/05/2005
16/05/2005
