U.K. Halts Development Aid to N.Korea

The British Foreign Office has completely halted overseas development aid to North Korea, the Voice of America reported.

The British Foreign Office told VOA in an e-mail last Thursday that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson ordered the complete cessation of all aid to North Korea.

Johnson said the North cannot be allowed to continue its human rights violations and attempts to develop nuclear weapons.

ODA is given to developing countries to help them build up their economies and improve welfare. While criticizing the North’s human rights violations and nuclear ambitions, the U.K. had continued to provide ODA to North Korea.

It was involved in five aid projects in North Korea worth 240,000 pounds sterling from April of last year to March of this year.

The British Foreign Office also told staff to avoid flying Air Koryo, North Korea's official carrier.

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