Seoul, May 17: South Korea has said on Friday North Korea, currently facing severe drought, should be offered food-aid despite Pyongyang’s recent missile tests and launches.
According to ANI news reports, South Korea also asserted the humanitarian issue in North Korea should be reviewed while separating it from an issue of security.
The presidential national security office head Chung Eui-yong was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying, “I think the food issue should be reviewed, irrespective of the security issue, from the humanitarian aspect, especially as the same compatriots.”
Meanwhile, Seoul is also drawing plans to provide humanitarian access, like food, to North Korea in an attempt to help alleviate the condition in the nation and to assist keep the stalled nuclear negotiation process alive.
The United States and South Korea have been criticized by North Korea over their joint military exercises, with Pyongyang’s foreign ministry spokesperson stating Seoul military has “no qualification to vilify” the North over its recent military training.
Also read: South Korea vows to bolster military defence capabilities post N. Korea’ missile threats
South Korea has pledged to strengthen its military defence capabilities, focusing on the Patriot system, in a response to “threats” posed by short-range missiles of North Korea.
South Korean defence ministry spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying, “Our military has been developing our own missile defence capabilities with a focus on the Patriot system in order to counter threats posed by North Korea’s short-range missiles.”