YONHAP NEWS

Seoul set to approve 10 bln won in aid for N. Korea: official

   SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government is set to approve a 10 billion won (US$9.6 million) aid package for impoverished North Korea, an official said Sunday, despite its chilled relations with the communist state amid the North's protests against Seoul's new conservative government.

   The money, if approved, will be spent throughout the year to match funds raised by civic organizations spearheading various aid projects, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

   However, whether the money will actually find its way to the communist North remains to be seen as Seoul's new conservative administration has vowed to link any non-humanitarian assistance for the North to progress in international talks aimed at ridding the North of its nuclear programs.

   "The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Committee will hold its first meeting since the inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak administration on Thursday, and vote on the amount of funds to be provided to civilian humanitarian projects this year," the official at the Ministry of Unification said.

   The ministry has been reviewing about 60 requests for matching funds since late February, but the total amount of government assistance for those organizations is expected to be reduced to some 10 billion won from 11.7 billion won last year, according to the official.

   The reduction is mainly due to a recommendation from state inspectors to reject requests from several organizations that were "disqualified" from government assistance due to lack of transparency in their management of funds, he said.

   The relationship between the divided Koreas has dipped to its lowest point in recent years as Pyongyang shut its doors to all South Korean government officials in March, citing what it claimed to be remarks by ranking military officials hinting at possible preemptive strikes against its country.

   bdk@yna.co.kr
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