[정치]North Korea Not Responding … Optimistic Initiative for ‘Inter-Korean Health Cooperation’

[앵커]

Inter-Korean relations are stagnant, but initiatives to expand inter-Korean exchanges, including cooperation in health, are constantly emerging.

It is said that it is necessary to prepare in advance when the conditions are ready, but North Korea is not interested, but some point out that it only has an optimistic outlook.

This is reporter Dowon Kim.

[기자]

With the Corona 19 epidemic around the world, the government looked forward to quarantine and health cooperation as a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations.

In addition to providing quarantine supplies, there has also been a plan to create a vital inter-Korean health complex that includes joint medical treatment and development of new drugs, as well as joint research on vaccines by medical personnel from South and North Korea.

[박상민 / 서울대 통일의학센터 부소장 : DMZ를 활용한 남북 간 보건의료 교류협력을 우선적으로 제안을 하고, 만약 이런 부분이 현실적으로 어렵다면 남북 접경지역을 활용한 광역 간 상생 협력도…]

The problem is reality.

The biggest obstacle is, of course, the sanctions against North Korea.

Humanitarian aid that is subject to the sanctions exemption is noted as highly urgent food and disaster recovery assistance, and additional assistance is more likely to violate sanctions.

[고명현 / 아산정책연구원 선임연구위원 : (북한이) 의료기기에 대한 지원을 해외, 특히 유럽 국가들에 지원을 요청한 것으로 알고 있습니다. 그런데 문제는 유럽 국가들이 하나같이 제재를 언급하면서 지원이 어렵다, 난색을 표명했다고 하는데…]

Another problem is that there is no response from North Korea.

North Korea, which has closed its borders after Corona 19, has not responded to any humanitarian aid proposals from international organizations such as the World Food Organization.

In particular, regarding the humanitarian cooperation we have proposed, President Kim Jong-un ruled that it was not the essence.

[조선중앙TV (지난달 9일) : 현재 남조선당국은 방역협력, 인도주의적 협력, 개별 관광과 같은 비본질적인 문제들을 꺼내 들고 북남관계 개선에 관심이 있는 듯한 인상을 주고 있습니다.]

The idea that humanitarian cooperation will facilitate North Korea’s acceptance is the reason why it is said to be a misunderstanding.

Furthermore, since North Korea is wary of South Korea’s publicity of humanitarian aid as a political achievement, some analyzes say that it is more effective to go through private organizations or international organizations than through the government directly.

I am YTN Kim Do-won.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]