Seoul to review WFP's request for contribution on improving nutritions in N. Korea
The Executive Director of the UN's World Food Programme spoke with Seoul's ministers of unification and foreign affairs today.
The WFP reportedly requested South Korea's help to improve nutrition conditions in Pyeongyang.
Oh Jung-hee has the highlights from that meeting.
Seoul says it will review the UN food agency's formal request for humanitarian aid for North Korea.
The Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, met with South Korea's ministers of Unification and Foreign Affairs on Monday.
"I thoroughly read the recent joint report by the WFP and FAO on North Korea's food situation. I agree with the WFP that humanitarian issues and politics have to be separated."
The WFP chief highlighted that the recent report reveals the worrisome food security situation in the North.
He promised that any funding will be used according to the donor's desire.
"The officials of North Korea gave us access, unprecedented. We did what we would normally do in terms of assessing what is the nutrition and food security situation. Whatever we do, we'll assure the donors that the food or any assistance will meet their objectives -- we have monitoring systems in place.
Following the meeting,... the unification ministry announced the WFP asked for Seoul's assistance to improve the nutrition conditions of infants and pregnant women in the North... and said it will review the matter.
Seoul is also considering sending direct food aid to the North... but internal discussions on when that could happen... or whether that should happen still need to be held.
"This week, South Korea's unification minister will be having a series of meetings with civic and religious groups as well as local experts to hear their opinions on providing food aid to North Korea. After Pyeongyang launched short-range missiles into the East Sea last week, the Seoul government said that forming a social consensus first is crucial in providing aid to North Korea. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News."
The WFP reportedly requested South Korea's help to improve nutrition conditions in Pyeongyang.
Oh Jung-hee has the highlights from that meeting.
Seoul says it will review the UN food agency's formal request for humanitarian aid for North Korea.
The Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, met with South Korea's ministers of Unification and Foreign Affairs on Monday.
"I thoroughly read the recent joint report by the WFP and FAO on North Korea's food situation. I agree with the WFP that humanitarian issues and politics have to be separated."
The WFP chief highlighted that the recent report reveals the worrisome food security situation in the North.
He promised that any funding will be used according to the donor's desire.
"The officials of North Korea gave us access, unprecedented. We did what we would normally do in terms of assessing what is the nutrition and food security situation. Whatever we do, we'll assure the donors that the food or any assistance will meet their objectives -- we have monitoring systems in place.
Following the meeting,... the unification ministry announced the WFP asked for Seoul's assistance to improve the nutrition conditions of infants and pregnant women in the North... and said it will review the matter.
Seoul is also considering sending direct food aid to the North... but internal discussions on when that could happen... or whether that should happen still need to be held.
"This week, South Korea's unification minister will be having a series of meetings with civic and religious groups as well as local experts to hear their opinions on providing food aid to North Korea. After Pyeongyang launched short-range missiles into the East Sea last week, the Seoul government said that forming a social consensus first is crucial in providing aid to North Korea. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News."