Seoul is soon to start some prodecures to deliver its 8-million-dollar donation to the World Food Programme and UNICEF,... while continue hearing from the public on sending food aid to Pyeongyang.<br />But there's still no response from North Korea on Seoul's food aid plans.<br />Oh Jung-hee has more. <br />South Korea is soon to begin the procedures required for the 8 million U.S. dollar contribution to the UN for humanitarian assistance to North Korea.<br />Seoul's unification ministry said this last Friday:<br /> "The government sees that humanitarian assistance to the North should be separate from political situations. South Korea has decided to donate 8 million dollars to the World Food Programme and UNICEF for projects in North Korea on nutritional support and maternal and child health"<br />In 2017, South Korea had decided to offer the North humanitarian aid worth 8 million U.S. dollars through UNICEF and the World Food Programme.<br />That assistance -- which had to be given by 2018 -- was never sent.<br />Now, Seoul has to go through legislative procedures from the very beginning to execute that fund.<br />Seoul is to first discuss with the UN agencies about how the money should be spent... and then begin domestic procedures to deliver that fund, which include some voting processes.<br />Seoul is to prepare its food aid to the North separately.<br />South Korea's presidential office announced last Friday, after holding the National Security Council meeting, that it will collect opinions from the public and review specific options -- including whether to assist the North directly or indirectly through the World Food Programme.<br /> Seoul's unification minister met last week with religious and civic groups and local experts, and will meet with university heads and religious leaders this week to discuss the issue.<br />Meanwhile, there's no response from the North yet on Seoul's humanitarian aid announcement.<br />For the past three days, Pyeongyang's propaganda outlets have only urged the South to (quote)"stop depending on foreign forces," criticizing Seoul's recent bilateral working group meeting with Washington.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News. <br /><br />
