South Korea to send 50,000 tons of rice to North Korea

Jun 20, 2019, 09:13 am

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South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks during a press briefing held at Government Complex Seoul in Seoul on June 19, to announce the government’s plan to send 50,000 tons of rice in aid to Pyongyang via the World Food Programme./ Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporter Lee Seok-jong

The South Korean government has decided to send 50,000 tons of rice to North Korea through an international organization as part of efforts to help North Korea cope with its worsening food shortages. It marks the first time for South Korea to provide locally harvested rice to the North since 2010 through an international agency.

“As a result of close cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP), the government decided to send 50,000 tons of rice in aid to North Korea,” the Ministry of Unification said on Wednesday.

“We expect the food assistance to be delivered to the North Korean people as soon as possible,” the ministry said. “We will determine the timing and scale of additional food assistance to North Korea after reviewing the outcome of the current assistance.”

The unification ministry said it decided to give 50,000 tons given the consultation with the WFP, the size of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, similar cases in the past, and the rice supply in the South among other factors.

The ministry said its rice aid is “minimum emergency assistance for North Korean people who are threatened with survival,” and expected that the aid would ease the worsening food situation in the North.

A total of 81.5 billion won (US$69 million) was allocated to the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund this year, which includes 60.8 billion won (US$52 million) for the provision of 100,000 tons of rice.

The government plans to complete detailed consultations with the WFP on transport routes and schedule. After a a government committee overseeing inter-Korean exchange approves it, the decision will be finalized. Rice will be handed over to the WFP at a South Korean port. The U.N. agency will be responsible for the shipment and distribution of rice in the North.

#rice aid #World Food Programme #food assistance #food shortage #North Korea