Kim Yo Jong rejects South Korean medical aid offer as 'political provocation'

Centre · 2On Thursday 8 October, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected South Korea's plan to provide medical equipment aid to North Korea, calling it a "political provocation" and a violation of North Korean sovereignty. 1 2 Centre · 2Her statement was carried by the state news agency KCNA. In it she criticised Seoul for publicising its efforts to obtain a UN sanctions exemption, and said Seoul had "insulted" North Korea by citing shortages of medicines and equipment and worsening health conditions. 1 2 Centre · 2She said Seoul's proposal was meant to show off South Korea's "goodwill" against North Korea's rejection, calling it "a sinister political calculation". She also said that the equipment could not enter North Korean territory, so those proposing it were staging a "farce". 2 1

Centre · 2Kim said the "hostile nature of inter-Korean relations" can never change and that the North has "nothing to give or receive" from the South. In Anadolu's rendering of the KCNA text, she said Pyongyang had no need to meet the South face to face. 1 2 Centre · 2She added that if Seoul truly wants to restore relations, it should first show respect, consideration and sincerity in every word and action. 1 2 Centre · 2Kim linked the aid offer to a dispute over a land mine blast last month near the demilitarised zone that wounded South Korean soldiers, calling the aid proposal "another farce, orchestrated in parallel with the 'mine explosion' farce". Seoul says North Korean mines caused the blast, while Pyongyang denies planting them; Reuters says the North described the incident as a fabrication. 2 1

Centre · 1According to South Korean media reports cited by Reuters, Seoul secured a UN sanctions exemption in May to ship medical equipment worth about US$6.8 million to a Pyongyang hospital. The plan involves more than 1,400 items, including diagnostic and surgical equipment, by late November, subject to consultations with the North. 1 Centre · 2South Korea's unification ministry said Seoul would not be "swayed by each development" in the North's response and would keep working to ease distrust. President Lee Jae Myung has sought to reopen dialogue and expand humanitarian cooperation despite repeated rebuffs. Separately, Yonhap reported that South Korea's top military commander said he regarded the mine blast as nothing other than a North Korean "provocation". 1 2