On January 17, Unification Minister Kwon Youngse met Catherine
Russell, executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), and David Beasley, head of the World Food Program (WFP) in
Davos, Switzerland to discuss the unification and North Korean
policies and share current situations and outlook of the international
organizations’ humanitarian assistance to North Korea.
Russell inquired about North Korea’s humanitarian situations, such
as the COVID-19 pandemic, and indicated that although many
restrictions, including North Korea’s border controls, remain, UNICEF
is continuously implementing vaccines and medical assistance projects
for North Korean infants. She also expressed that she would resume
humanitarian projects in the North as soon as the conditions are set.
Beasley mentioned that North Korea’s border controls and other
restrictions are preventing the implementation of the food assistance
project to resolve North Korea’s chronic food shortages and expressed
his hopes to soon carry out humanitarian projects in a full-fledged
manner by closely working with the Ministry of Unification.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Unification confirmed the
international organizations’ support of the humanitarian cooperation
between the two Koreas and the consistency of the Yoon
administration’s principle. The ministry also agreed on the need to
swiftly resume humanitarian projects in the North with international organizations.
The Ministry of Unification plans to make progressive efforts
through close cooperation with international organizations so that
humanitarian projects in the North are swiftly implemented, which will
help North Koreans improve their quality of life.
