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The World Food Program has formally asked the South Korean government for US$60 million to procure grain and daily necessities for North Koreans hit by a severe food shortage, the Unification Ministry said Thursday. Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun quoted the WFP as saying the aid was needed for some 6.2 million indigent people in the North. "The government will decide whether to accept the appeal or not based on public opinion,ˇ± Kim added. ˇ°If necessary, we can conduct an opinion poll."
Kim said the government is not on the whole In favor of indirect aid to the North through international agencies ˇ°because it requires more administrative costs and time than direct aid.ˇ± He warned it will be difficult to reach a conclusion at a time when there has been no progress in the probe of the fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist at Mt. Kumgang in the North.
The government has been saying it would deliver purely humanitarian aid to the North without strings attached and consider direct aid if there is a request from Pyongyang, or even without if there is a very serious food problem or a disaster occurs.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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