South Korea's Jeju Province sends dialysis machines, citrus saplings, other supplies to North Korea
Seoul, June 8
South Korea's Jeju provincial government said Monday it has recently sent dialysis machines, tangerine saplings and other supplies to North Korea as part of an inter-Korean cooperation project.
The items, worth 160 million won (US$104,000), arrived in North Korea's western port of Nampho on May 4 after they were shipped from South Korea's western port of Incheon on April 1 via the Chinese port of Dalian, according to the province.
The provincial government said it submitted an application to the unification ministry on March 9 to send the items to North Korea, which included the medical equipment, forestry pesticide and saplings of Hallabong, a type of citrus fruit grown on Jeju, reports Xinhua news agency.
It said the items were sent through cooperation with a North Korean support group for the disabled but noted that it has yet to receive confirmation from the North Korean side on their arrival.
The provincial government said it began pushing for the project after Gov. Oh Young-hun discussed inter-Korean cooperation projects when he met Unification Minister Chung Dong-young last November.
In February, a provincial delegation met with North Korean officials and reached an agreement to carry out inter-Korean cooperation projects in phases, according to the province.
They agreed to first focus cooperation on tangerines, medical welfare and forest pest control before expanding cooperation to pig farming and tourism, it said.
But the Jeju government declined to confirm a local media report that said Oh met Ri Ho-nam, a North Korean intelligence operative, in Beijing in February.
Ri is known for his suspected involvement in a 2019 North Korea remittance case. Prosecutors have alleged a former chairman of underwear maker Ssangbangwool illegally delivered $700,000 to Ri at a hotel in Manila, the Philippines.
Under past inter-Korean cooperation projects, the island sent 48,000 tons of tangerines and 18,000 tons of carrots to North Korea from 1998 to 2010.
The projects were suspended following the 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship by a North Korean torpedo attack in the Yellow Sea, which killed 46 South Korean sailors.
The province, however, did send tangerines to North Korea in one-off instances, including in 2018 and 2021.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I find it touching that Jeju is still trying to build bridges with North Korea after all these years. The tangerine saplings and dialysis machines are practical necessities. But the arrest of the Ssangbangwool chairman for illegal payments to Ri Ho-nam raises red flags. South Korea needs to ensure these projects aren't being exploited for espionage or money laundering. As an outsider, I hope this leads to genuine peace, not just political posturing.
As someone from India who follows East Asian politics, I see parallels with our own "neighbourhood first" policy. Sending Hallabong saplings is like India sending mango saplings to Bangladesh - it's a soft power gesture. But the 2010 warship sinking shows how fragile these ties are. Still, I appreciate Jeju's persistence - it reminds me of how Chennai sends rice to Sri Lanka during crises. Small steps can build trust, but both sides need to be genuine. 🍊🇮🇳
This is a mixed bag. On one hand, Jeju's humanitarian aid to North Korea's disabled population is commendable. On the other, the involvement of Ri Ho-nam and the illegal remittance case makes me question the transparency. The Chinese port of Dalian as a stopover also hints at China's role. As a Western observer, I'd say South Korea needs stricter oversight of these projects to prevent them from becoming conduits for illicit activities. The tangerines are sweet, but the politics are sour.
I'm glad to see some inter-Korean cooperation finally moving forward, even if it's just a small shipment. The dialysis machines will save lives - dialing equipment is scarce in North Korea. But why did it take two months to reach Nampho via Dalian? That's inefficient. Also, the tangerine saplings are a nice touch; Hallabong is a premium citrus. In India, we do similar things with Kashmir
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