Civic group in disaccord with gov't policy on N.K. flood aid

Civic group in disaccord with gov't policy on N.K. flood aid. September. 22, 2016 07:33. by 조숭호기자 shcho@donga.com. The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC) held an urgent press conference on Wednesday to announce its plan to initiate national fund-raising campaign to help flood-stricken areas in North Korea. The organization chose to send winter clothes for North Korean children in the hardest-hit areas. The decision was reportedly made to avert possible controversies over strategic goods when supplying goods such as cement and rice.

“At the flood-stricken areas located in the northernmost region in the Korean Peninsula, North Korean residents will be needing winter equipment as temperature will go below zero,” said a KCRC official. The organization plans to purchase winter clothes as soon as the funds are raised, store them at Hunchun, Jilin where North Korean and Chinese territories meet, and then supply to the North once the South Korean government issues permission. The decision came as an alternative after the Ministry of Unification disapproved the Korea NGO Council for Cooperation (KNCCK)’s application for sending its relief team on Tuesday.

“support from the Korean religious society is absolutely necessary, as at least 17,000 children may have become homeless given that nearly 17,000 households were completely drowned,” the KCRC said. Currently led by former ruling lawmaker Hong Sa-deok (photo), the organization consists of not only bipartisan politicians, but also some 180 institutions, which include both conservative and liberal religious and civil groups.

According to Voice of America (VOA), the U.N. dispatched its 2nd delegation at the flooded North Hamgyong Province to conduct a local inspection around the Musan and Yonsa counties. While inspecting the current damages and checking required supplies, the delegation is also in charge of monitoring whether the relief goods are evenly distributed. The World Food Programme (WFP) also responded to North Korea’s request for help, and decided to provide 77 tons of fortified biscuits and 79 tons of beans as an urgent relief.

Despite the recent flood, the South Korean government is maintaining its stance that it cannot respond to the ambivalent North, which continues to provoke the international society by conducting its 5th nuclear tests while reaching out for help in the flood-stricken areas. Following the recent 5th nuclear test on Sept. 9, many experts also forecast an additional provocation in line with its Workers' Party Foundation Day on Oct. 10.

Asked about the adequacy of providing relief programs to the North, Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said during the regular briefing on Wednesday, “Pyongyang officially announced that North Korea was hit with the worst damage since the liberation of Korea, but Kim Jong Un is still smiling broadly at the engine test field. Given this ambiguous stance, the KNCCK should ask themselves whether it is appropriate (to request a visit to the North).” However, the ministry gave no further comments on the fund-raising campaign held by the KCRC.