South Korean NGOs try to contact North Korea to offer humanitarian aid

South Korea’s Unification Ministry has given approval for South Korean civic groups to contact their North Korean counterparts to offer humanitarian aid due to the critical situation following the floods. This is the first time in two years that such contact has been allowed amid tense inter-Korean relations.

On Friday, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification announced that it has given the green light to requests from several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to establish communication with North Korea. The aim of this authorization is to offer help for recovery after the severe damage caused by recent floods in northern North Korea, especially in border areas.

Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson for the ministry, told a news conference that despite the current tensions between the two Koreas, the South Korean government has decided to allow civic groups to contact the North exclusively for humanitarian assistance related to the floods. “It is crucial that North Korean citizens affected by the floods can resume their daily lives as soon as possible,” Kim said.

The decision to approve these requests marks a significant shift in South Korean government policy under President Yoon Suk Yeol, as it is the first time in about two years that civilian humanitarian assistance has been authorized. This opening in policy toward North Korea is intended to offer respite to communities affected by the natural disaster in that country, where floods have left major disasters behind.

The recent natural disasters, caused by heavy rains in late July, have severely affected the North Korean provinces of North Pyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang. In these regions, large areas of agricultural land and homes have been submerged under water. The situation has created a humanitarian crisis in the country.

The South Korean Red Cross has offered its assistance to help victims in coordination with the North Korean Red Cross, and South Korean civil organizations are also expected to participate in the relief effort.

Despite the Unification Ministry’s approval, uncertainty remains as it remains unclear whether North Korea will actually accept the South Korean civic groups’ offer of assistance.

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Diplomatic obstacles between the Koreas hamper humanitarian aid

Relations between the two countries have long been increasingly strained, with Pyongyang having taken a rather hostile stance towards Seoul on several occasions. Earlier this month, South Korea’s Unification Ministry had offered humanitarian assistance directly to Kim Jong-un’s regime, but has so far received no response.

South Korea’s humanitarian assistance proposal includes essential supplies such as food and medicine, targeting the hardest-hit areas. Park Jong-sul, secretary general of the Korean Red Cross, has stressed the South Korean government’s willingness to discuss the details of the aid, including the specific items, scale of assistance and delivery methods. Seoul is currently awaiting a response from its northern neighbors before coordinating the aid.

This latest attempt by the South Korean government to offer humanitarian aid is the second under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Two years ago, in May 2022, South Korean authorities had attempted to discuss with the North the provision of COVID-19 prevention equipment. However, so far, these initiatives have not resulted in effective collaboration.

The Unification Ministry said it decided to communicate its intention to help through the media because North Korea has stopped responding to the channels of communication established between the two Koreas since April last year. The use of the press to make public the offer of help shows the difficulty of maintaining open diplomatic channels in the current context.

Due to its poor infrastructure and vulnerability to natural disasters, North Korea has had to deal with critical situations regarding flooding. The recent events have prompted the country to call an emergency meeting of the Political Bureau of the Workers’ Party Central Committee to address the damage caused by the torrential rains. Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, has visited the affected areas and has overseen rescue operations to assist the affected residents.