hankyoreh

including the Korean Peasants’ League

The South Korean government fails to grant approval to civic organizations requesting to send rice aid to North Korea.

The government stated reservations that have made it impossible to approve requests by the peasant sector of the Southern Committee for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration to send rice aid. A unification ministry official said that it informed the organization of its decision on Sept. 8.

The same official said, “The ministry is approving requests for humanitarian aid selectively when we determine the primary recipient is in need.” He explained, “Although, this request is clearly about humanitarian aid, the target is ambiguous.” The official added, Therefore it fails to meet the criteria that designates the primary recipient is in need.”

Many civic activists are criticizing the ministry’s decision and are saying, “It is an unfair decision.”

As of May 25, the Unification Ministry had approved approximately 150 tons of rice aid to North Korea and stopped all forms of aid in response to North Korea’s second nuclear test.

The official also said, “If the organization is able to confirm the primary recipients are those most in need, we would reexamine whether we will approve it.”

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