S. Korean FM nominee calls for humanitarian aid to North

Seoul May 25 (IANS) South Korea s Foreign Minister nominee Kang Kyung-hwa on Thursday said the humanitarian aid to North Korea should be provided without political considerations.

Kang a veteran diplomat at the UN said the aid to Pyongyang should be provided separately from political considerations as it is a matter of the universal value of humanity that should be done towards people who are suffering from pain.

Over the weekend President Moon Jae-in appointed Kang as the country s first female Foreign Minister. The post does not require a parliamentary approval but she will be subject to the National Assembly hearing XInhua news agency reported.

Asked about North Korea s recent missile launch provocations Kang said that if provocations were conducted further more powerful sanctions would be required.

Her comments were in line with the new government s policy stance. Moon indicated a firm response to provocations while seeking dialogue for the denuclearised Korean peninsula.

Moon was widely forecast to inherit a so-called sunshine policy of engagement with North Korea through economic cooperation.

Seoul s unification ministry was reviewing the resumption of civilian exchanges with Pyongyang which had been suspended under the previous government following North Korea s fourth nuclear test in January 2016.

--IANS
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