Kim Yo Jong calls South Korean medical aid plan a provocation

Kim Yo Jong, a department director of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, criticized South Korea's proposed medical-equipment assistance on October 8, describing it as a serious provocation against North Korea. Chinese outlets reported the statement, citing KCNA. Kim said South Korean equipment could not enter North Korea under the current circumstances. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]

In her statement, Kim referred to South Korean comments about shortages of medicines and medical equipment and deteriorating sanitary conditions in North Korea. She also cited South Korea's stated aim of improving essential medical services for vulnerable groups. She characterized those remarks as an insult, a disguised political provocation and a serious infringement of North Korean sovereignty. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]

Kim alleged that South Korea had political motives for the proposal, seeking to benefit by contrasting its own purported goodwill with North Korea's rejection. She said South Korea should show the greatest respect and sincerity if it intended to improve relations. She also said North Korea would not exchange anything with South Korea, did not need to deal with it and would not change the hostile nature of the relationship. [ 1 , 2 ]

Xinhua and China News Service separately cited an October 7 Yonhap report about material released by South Korea's Unification Ministry. According to that account, the South Korean government had submitted an application to the UN Security Council committee overseeing sanctions on North Korea to facilitate medical-equipment aid. The committee notified South Korea in May that it would provide an exemption for the ministry's assistance project. [ 2 , 4 ]