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The government is to spend more on financial support for North Korea next year than this year despite the North¡¯s missile tests in July and nuclear test in October.
The Unification Ministry's plan for the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund obtained by the Chosun Ilbo says the government is to spend almost W1 trillion (US $1=W916) on some 30 inter-Korean projects in 2007. But the sum is in reality bigger than the W1.16 trillion budget this year, which included W200 billion that was to have gone into the aborted light-water reactor project for the North.
In 2003 and 2004, the government allocated some W690 billion for the fund, including money for the reactor project and food aid. Some pundits speculate the government has an ulterior motive in hiking the amount next year, possibly to create the right atmosphere for a second inter-Korean summit amid international sanctions against the North as a presidential election looms in the South. A second summit would boost the unpopular ruling party¡¯s chances at the polls immeasurably.
Under the plan, the government would allocate W192.5 billion to increasing food aid to the North from 400,000 tons on average to 500,000 tons, amid fears that the North¡¯s food situation will get worse due to suspension of food aid from the international community. In addition, it earmarks W140 billion to provide 350,000 tons of fertilizer to the North. The plan also includes W30.1 billion to support the North via international exchanges, W11.5 billion to assist inter-Korean social and cultural exchanges, and W3 billion to give people first-hand experience of life in the North. "There are so many volatile factors in the inter-Korean relationship,¡± a Unification Ministry official said. ¡°The plan just aims to determine where funds for inter-Korean projects would go, not to create conditions for another inter-Korean summit.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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