As the United States and South Korea continue to debate the need to send humanitarian food aid to North Korea, India has decided that the situation is sufficiently serious to warrant assistance and has announced it is making pulses worth $1 million available for distribution through the World Food Programme.
The decision was revealed by the country’s Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.
Speaking about the move, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed explained, “We value our relationship with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” adding, “India is sensitive to the scarcity of food in the DPRK and, in this hour of need, has decided to grant humanitarian food assistance of $1 million, which will provide for 1300 tons of pulses.”
However, the Lee administration seems less concerned, as a Ministry of Unification spokesperson reiterated the administration’s position on the subject in Seoul this morning, saying, “Currently, there is nothing to look into.”
However, Cheon Hae Seong added to reporters, “There are requests from private organizations etc, and we are now looking into those.”
On the other side of the Pacific, Andy Laine, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, told Fox News on Friday that the position of the U.S. government has not changed, while a source in the South Korean government pointed out to The Daily NK back on Thursday, “We will not be able to provide unilateral rice aid to North Korea in the absence of prior consultation between the U.S. and South Korean governments.”
