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The government on Thursday said it would give food aid to North Korea regardless of the Stalinist country¡¯s claim to be reassembling nuclear facilities at Yongbyon. Asked during a daily briefing if a decision will be made on food aid regardless of the developments, Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said, "We'll deliver humanitarian aid" regardless.
In a speech Wednesday marking the 10th anniversary of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong had said, "We're positively considering giving food aid from a humanitarian standpoint."
"We've openly offered corn aid twice, but the North has made no response,¡± he said. ¡°Sometimes we feel the impulse to act in same way the North does. But we've been waiting patiently, mindful of the watchful eyes of our people and the people around the world."
So far, the government has only reiterated its basic principle on food aid to the North, saying it will decide after taking public opinion and the food situation in the North into consideration.
But it has apparently changed mind in light of requests by the ruling Grand National Party and the World Food Programme, and a signal from the North that it is willing to accept food aid from a South Korean charity.
The government will reportedly decide whether to give aid to the North or not after seeing what North Korea will say about relations with South Korea at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of North Korea's founding next Tuesday.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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