US special envoy to North Korea Stephen Biegun has announced that the US will be acting to expedite humanitarian aid to North Korea in the future. The move was announced during Biegun’s visit to South Korea.
North Korea is expressing increasing anger over the US continuing to
escalate tensions, and sanctions, against them even while they move
forward on denuclearization. As the US keeps tacking on more sanctions,
limited humanitarian aid to North Korea has all but halted.
South Korea has been deeply critical of this, urging the US to accept
some easing of sanctions. Biegun’s announcement is likely being done as
much to try to placate the South Korean government as it is to offer
some confidence-building to the North Koreans.
In addition to trying to facilitate aid, Biegun also says the US will be reviewing its current ban on travel into North Korea, which could potentially allow US aid workers back into the country.
Envoy: US to Expedite Humanitarian Aid to North Korea
Move seen as attempt to boost denuclearization process
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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