For the first time in 29 years, South Korea’s humanitarian aid to North Korea—whether from the government or private sector—was completely cut off in 2023, marking a stark end to decades of assistance that continued even during fluctuations in inter-Korean relations.
![Officials from a South Korean civilian organization inspect sample malaria prevention supplies for North Korea in 2017. [Yonhap]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/0304-aid.jpg)
According to the Ministry of Unification on March 5, no humanitarian aid projects for North Korea were successfully carried out last year, marking a significant departure from past practices.
A History of Humanitarian Assistance
South Korea’s humanitarian aid to North Korea began in 1995 when it provided 150,000 tons of rice to the North, which was suffering from severe food shortages due to devastating floods. At the time, Pyongyang had appealed to the international community for disaster relief.
The scale of aid peaked in 2007, reaching approximately $330 million. However, as North Korea ramped up its nuclear and missile development, assistance gradually declined. The last recorded aid effort was in 2023, when $6.7 million was allocated for child nutrition programs, including $5.3 million from private organizations.
The South Korean government’s last direct aid to North Korea came in 2018, when it provided $900,000 worth of forest pest control chemicals. The last indirect aid through international organizations was in 2020, when Seoul pledged $8.9 million in food assistance through the World Food Programme (WFP). However, the WFP-led initiative was never executed due to North Korea’s refusal to accept the aid.
Why Was Humanitarian Aid Cut Off?
The complete halt of humanitarian assistance in 2023 reflects North Korea’s increasingly rigid stance on isolating itself from South Korea.
A Ministry of Unification official stated, “North Korea has been rejecting most offers of external assistance, with the exception of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). When it comes to South Korea, Pyongyang’s rejection has been even more uncompromising. Some foreign NGOs have even been required to sign pledges explicitly stating that no South Korean funds are involved.”
The official added, “It will take time before either the government or private organizations in South Korea can resume humanitarian aid to North Korea.”
Policy Shifts and the Shrinking Space for Aid
Some analysts point to the Hanoi Summit breakdown in 2019 as a turning point. Even after inter-Korean relations cooled, South Korean NGOs managed to carry out limited aid projects by routing assistance through China.
However, under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the government has enforced a principle of “orderly inter-Korean exchanges,” effectively blocking informal contact with North Korea. This policy shift has contributed to the further contraction of humanitarian support.
With North Korea’s persistent rejection of assistance and South Korea’s tightened restrictions on engagement, the future of humanitarian aid between the two Koreas remains uncertain.
By Mooyoung Lee [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]
