Mt. Kumgang talks, private aid to N.Korea approved

Posted on : 2011-07-26 15:10 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Resumption of Mt. Kumgang tourism remained suspended through the Lee administration’s hardline N.Korea policy

By Kim Jong-cheol, Senior Staff Writer 
 
The South Korean government sent a message to North Korea Monday proposing working-level talks at Mt. Kumkang on July 29 to discuss issues related to the Mt. Kumkang tourism venture. It also approved wheat flour aid to North Korea by private groups, which had been halted in November 2010 following the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island.
Observers are waiting to see whether this, in conjunction with a recent gathering of momentum for resumption of the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, will serve as an occasion for thawing inter-Korean relations from their frozen state since last year’s Cheonan sinking and Yeonpyeong Island attack.
“These working-level talks have the primary goal of protecting the property rights of business operators at Mt. Kumkang, but we believe it will be possible to allow discuss essential issues, since discussions on resuming tourism emerged at the last inter-Korean civilian-government meeting,” said a Ministry of Unification official. “Whether or not there is real progress depends on North Korea’s attitude.”
The official said that there was “no connection between the Bali talks and this decision” and emphasized that there was “no change in our basic position that there needs to be an investigation into the tourist shooting death, as well as measures for personal security and prevention of similar incidents.”
The Ministry of Unification also granted approval Monday to wheat aid for vulnerable North Koreans requested by the private group Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation and the Catholic Church, as well as a visit to North Korea for the purposes of aid delivery. The KCRC will be delivering 300 tons of flour Tuesday to day care centers, kindergartens, and pediatric hospitals in Sariwon, while the Catholic Church will be providing 100 tons of flour Thursday to the people’s hospital in North Hwanghae Province and other places.
This marks the first approval granted for a South Korean private group’s food aid to North Korea since November 2010, when 36 tons of wheat flour aid by the Korean Methodist Church were approved.
“We granted approval because our private groups and North Korea agreed last week to monitor the distribution in the field,” said a Unification Ministry official. “We will apply the same standard in looking at the other groups.”
  
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]