South spends to solve North environmental issue
Published: 17 Oct. 2009, 07:00
South Korea’s Ministry of Environment last month provided 961 million won ($830,300) to help an international body resolve environmental problems in North Korea, the JoongAng Ilbo has learned.
According to the ministry, the payment was made to the United Nations Environment Program, which helps countries deal with environmental issues and set up environment-friendly policies. The ministry also shelled out 2 billion won to the UNEP in November 2007.
Kim Yong-jin, head of the international affairs division at the ministry, said the ministry will try to make it an even 1 billion won by the end of the year and explained, “The UNEP will handle the funds and will also oversee all related projects.”
Environmental projects for the North include building eco-friendly homes, raising awareness of the environment, and establishing plans for water quality control on the Taedong River. The UNEP published a report on the North Korean environment in August 2004 and then asked for South Korea’s financial assistance.
In June this year, the UN agency invited officials from the North’s Ministry of Environment Conservation to Beijing and Bangkok for workshops.
Kim, the South Korean official, said North Korea turned down Seoul’s invitation for a visit to South Korean facilities.
In another aid-related development, a report showed that the Red Cross in Seoul has not provided any aid to North Korea this year. That fact was revealed in a Red Cross report submitted to Democratic Labor Party lawmaker Kwak Jung-sook.
Kwak noted that the North Korean aid supplied by the Red Cross plunged from 200 billion won ($172.8 million) in 2006 to 1.8 billion won last year.
The steep decline reflects deteriorating inter-Korean relations in recent years, especially under the Lee Myung-bak administration. The Lee government has suspended rice and fertilizer aid, linking them to the North’s denuclearization efforts. NGOs have mostly supplied medicine and clothes for seniors and infants.
Red Cross representatives from the two Koreas are scheduled to meet today to discuss reunions for separated families and other humanitarian issues. The Unification Ministry has repeatedly denied speculation that the South was preparing a massive rice aid package. Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said at a forum yesterday that it was premature to discuss the rice issue.
By Kang Chan-soo, Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
According to the ministry, the payment was made to the United Nations Environment Program, which helps countries deal with environmental issues and set up environment-friendly policies. The ministry also shelled out 2 billion won to the UNEP in November 2007.
Kim Yong-jin, head of the international affairs division at the ministry, said the ministry will try to make it an even 1 billion won by the end of the year and explained, “The UNEP will handle the funds and will also oversee all related projects.”
Environmental projects for the North include building eco-friendly homes, raising awareness of the environment, and establishing plans for water quality control on the Taedong River. The UNEP published a report on the North Korean environment in August 2004 and then asked for South Korea’s financial assistance.
In June this year, the UN agency invited officials from the North’s Ministry of Environment Conservation to Beijing and Bangkok for workshops.
Kim, the South Korean official, said North Korea turned down Seoul’s invitation for a visit to South Korean facilities.
In another aid-related development, a report showed that the Red Cross in Seoul has not provided any aid to North Korea this year. That fact was revealed in a Red Cross report submitted to Democratic Labor Party lawmaker Kwak Jung-sook.
Kwak noted that the North Korean aid supplied by the Red Cross plunged from 200 billion won ($172.8 million) in 2006 to 1.8 billion won last year.
The steep decline reflects deteriorating inter-Korean relations in recent years, especially under the Lee Myung-bak administration. The Lee government has suspended rice and fertilizer aid, linking them to the North’s denuclearization efforts. NGOs have mostly supplied medicine and clothes for seniors and infants.
Red Cross representatives from the two Koreas are scheduled to meet today to discuss reunions for separated families and other humanitarian issues. The Unification Ministry has repeatedly denied speculation that the South was preparing a massive rice aid package. Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said at a forum yesterday that it was premature to discuss the rice issue.
By Kang Chan-soo, Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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