Gov`t approves fertilizer aid to N. Korea first in five years

Gov`t approves fertilizer aid to N. Korea first in five years. April. 28, 2015 07:17. zeitung@donga.com.

The government approved Monday a civic group`s plan to send fertilizers to North Korea. The move is the first of its kind since the May 24 sanctions took effect five years ago. The government had imposed the May 24 sanctions following North Korea`s sinking of the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan in 2010. The government`s approval came after the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises on May 24, raising hopes that relations with the North would improve.

The Unification Ministry said it approved Ace Gyeongam, Ace Bed`s humanitarian aid group, to send North fertilizers for a greenhouse project in Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province. Ace Gyeongam said seven businessmen, including Ace Bed founder Anh Yoo-soo will visit the North via a land route Tuesday, carrying 200 million won (186,000 U.S. dollars) of agricultural materials, along with 15 tons of fertilizers.

The government had prohibited a private company`s fertilizer aid to the North since May 2010, and the last fertilizer aid to the North was made in April 2010. The latest aid is small in scale but is likely to increase. Ace Gyeongam said, "We plan to send 40-60 tons of fertilizers to the North, and the government is positive in additional aid."