The unification ministry plans to set aside less budget for humanitrian aid in North Korea.... while increasing spending for inter-Korean economic cooperation.... to view Pyongyang as an economic partner rather than an aid beneficiary.<br />Choi Si-young explains further. <br />South Korea plans to spend more next year on inter-Korean cooperation... in an effort to boost exchanges with North Korea... as agreed at their historic summit in April.<br />On Tuesday, Seoul's unification ministry revealed its spending blueprint for 2019.<br /> The budget for the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund rose by 14 percent from this year,... to stand at 1-point-1 trillion won, or roughly 1 billion U.S. dollars.<br /> And among various categories within the fund, Seoul plans to give the biggest boost to economic cooperation -- at over 46-percent. <br /> Seoul will be putting more into grants and loans for economic projects,... mainly related to railway and road connections... and forestation. <br /> The numbers are subject to change as discussions continue with North Korea on these projects,... but regardless, the government says the projects will be carried out in a way that does not violate international sanctions... and in step with North Korea's denuclearization.<br /> South Korea has also raised its budget for families separated by the Korean War... by nearly threefold.<br />That... considering Seoul and Pyongyang could hold more family reunions next year and even enable the families to visit their hometowns on the other side of the border. <br /> Meanwhile, Seoul is cutting down on funds for humanitarian aid... and plans to reduce its food assistance for North Korea to a third of the current figure.<br /> South Korea says it now sees North Korea as an economic partner to work with... rather than a subject to help.<br />Choi Si-young , Arirang News. <br />
