North Korea Rejects South Korea’s Offer of Medical Aid

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a director of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Committee, on Thursday described South Korea’s offer to provide medical equipment to North Korea as a provocation and an insult. South Korean media had reported that Seoul offered to supply medical equipment worth $6.75 million to a North Korean hospital by the end of November. As some of the equipment is subject to sanctions, South Korea had sought an exemption from the United Nations sanctions committee responsible for monitoring measures against North Korea. The exemption was approved on May 22 for a period of nine months.

In a statement circulated by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong said South Korea had carelessly stated in its “request” that it would help “improve basic medical services for vulnerable groups,” while referring to a shortage of “medicines and medical equipment and a deteriorating public health situation” in North Korea. She described the remarks as an insult to her country, a politically motivated provocation in disguise, and a serious violation of North Korean law. Kim Yo Jong characterized the offer as a “sinister political calculation” intended to portray South Korea’s “goodwill” in contrast with North Korea’s supposedly “uncooperative attitude.” She added that information about the potential delivery of medical equipment had been leaked to the media shortly after an incident in which a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) injured three South Korean soldiers. South Korea had blamed North Korea for the incident.

The statement said: “The main culprits who staged the farce known as the ‘landmine explosion case’ and declared an all-out confrontation with North Korea are now talking about ‘humanitarian aid.’ This is the true face of South Korea, reflecting its characteristic duplicity, shamelessness, and brazen conduct, which are unmatched anywhere else.” Kim Yo Jong said that regardless of whether South Korea’s intentions were malicious or supposedly “well-meaning,” any such attempt would be regarded by North Korea as a challenge, a serious provocation, and a violation of its sovereignty.