S. Korea to provide 1,400 medical items including X-ray machines in N. Korea aid project

Sep 21, 2026, 09:19 am

As the Ministry of Unification pushes forward with a medical assistance project to supply 166 types of essential medical equipment to a hospital in Kangdong County, Pyongyang, it has been confirmed that the aid encompasses roughly 1,400 medical items, including X-ray machines. However, concerns have been raised in some quarters that the equipment could be diverted for military purposes.

According to data submitted on the 20th by the ministry to Rep. Kim Dae-sik of the People Power Party, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, the government is seeking to provide 1,431 medical items across 166 categories necessary for diagnosis, surgery, and treatment to the Kangdong County hospital as part of its "Healthcare Cooperation Package" initiative. The project was outlined in the ministry's policy briefing last month as part of the broader "Four Major Peace Exchange Projects."

The medical items slated for delivery include X-ray machines, stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors, operating tables, shadowless surgical lamps, defibrillators, and ventilators, with total costs estimated at approximately 9.3 billion won. The list comprises essential medical devices and supplies used across clinical departments in South Korean hospitals, selected based on consultations with the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare.

Nevertheless, this remains a government proposal, and its realization hinges on North Korea's response. The Unification Ministry noted, "This is a plan that requires consultations with the North Korean side," adding, "Manufacturers and specific models have not yet been determined, and detailed items and unit costs remain subject to change during talks with Pyongyang and the procurement process."

The ministry previously obtained sanctions exemption approval from the UN Security Council in May and is currently waiting for favorable conditions to materialize before rolling out the initiative in earnest.

Opposition circles have expressed concern over the medical aid plan, warning that the items could be diverted for military use. During a plenary session of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee on the 17th, Rep. Park Chung-kwon of the People Power Party argued that Kangdong County is home to North Korea's Second Economic Committee, which oversees the defense industry, raising concerns that the project could end up benefiting North Korean elites rather than serving as genuine humanitarian aid. Park asserted, "The Ninth General Bureau under the Second Economic Committee oversees the development and production of biochemical weapons," adding, "Some of the 166 types of medical devices could potentially be diverted for the development and production of biochemical arms."

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young countered, calling the argument "an absurd leap in logic." He maintained, "Criticizing North Korea's nuclear and military posture should not be tied to treating diseases among ordinary North Koreans, and regional military facilities must be viewed separately from hospital facilities."

Rep. Kim Dae-sik remarked in this regard, "We will thoroughly scrutinize budget execution to ensure that taxpayers' money is not wasted on unsubstantiated aid projects or an unreciprocated, low-profile policy toward North Korea."

Mok Yong-jae

#North Korea #Medicine