North Korea demands South show ‘utmost respect’ to restore relations
The North has long been criticized for prioritizing the military over adequately providing for its people.
Seoul has announced plans to send North Korea a shipment of 1,431 medical supplies for use in diagnosis, surgery and treatment at a Pyongyang hospital. The unification ministry obtained a sanctions exemption from the U.N. Security Council in May to facilitate the aid. North Korea's powerful sister of leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong, dismissed the offer as an insult and a political provocation in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
She labeled the move a "noisy and ugly act" and described it as another farce. Kim also reiterated that Pyongyang has no intention of engaging with Seoul and expressed no desire for any exchange or face-to-face interaction with South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea. The unification ministry acknowledged that the likelihood of shipping the items as originally planned was slim and suggested they would seek another extension from the United Nations.
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- N. Korea rebuffs Seoul's medical aid offer as 'insult' en.yna.co.kr
- North Korea demands South show ‘utmost respect’ to restore relations freemalaysiatoday.com
- N. Korea rebuffs Seoul's medical aid offer as 'insult' koreatimes.co.kr
- North Korea decries medical aid, says ‘nothing to give or receive’ from Seoul scmp.com
- North Korea demands South show 'utmost respect' to restore relations channelnewsasia.com
