Controversy as North Korea-bound aid approved by Lee Jae Myung administration arrives in Nampo; claims emerge of early-year contact with operative Ri Ho-nam

[Financial News] It has been reported that North Korea-bound humanitarian aid supplies worth about 160 million won, approved by the Ministry of Unification under the Lee Jae Myung administration, arrived at Nampo Port in North Korea last month. The report has sparked controversy after claims emerged that Ri Ho-nam, a North Korean operative targeting South Korea, was involved in the aid process. Ri was identified as the person who allegedly received the "price for a trip to North Korea" that Ssangbangwool Group is said to have delivered to the North for President Lee Jae-myung's visit when he was governor of Gyeonggi Province.
According to Jeju Province and the Ministry of Unification on the 8th, it was belatedly revealed that Jeju Province sent goods worth about 160 million won to North Korea last month, including Hallabong saplings, pine wilt nematode medicine, and dialysis machines.
The aid was reportedly made possible after Minister Jung Dong-young met with Jeju Province on Nov. 5 last year, discussed plans for the Jeju-style inter-Korean exchange and cooperation project, and asked for cooperation with the North Korean tangerine donation project.
The Ministry of Unification did not deny approving the project. A government official said, "The Ministry of Unification approved Jeju Special Self-Governing Province's report of contact with North Korean residents and application for the export of goods, which were submitted to promote inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements." However, neither the ministry nor Jeju Province confirmed whether there had been any contact with Ri Ho-nam.
A ministry official said, "It is difficult for the Ministry of Unification to confirm specific details and progress." Jeju Province also said it could not confirm some media reports that Governor Oh Young-hun met Ri Ho-nam, a North Korean operative targeting South Korea, in Beijing.
The aid items sent by Jeju Province as part of an inter-Korean cooperation project passed through Dalian Port in China and arrived at Nampo Port in North Korea last month. The project was based on cooperation that began in early February with the Korean Company for the Support of the Disabled on the North Korean side. On March 9, Jeju Province filed an application with the Ministry of Unification to export specific items to North Korea. The declared items included dialysis machines and supplies, Hallabong and saplings, greenhouse facilities, and medicines to combat pine wilt nematode.
The Ministry of Unification approved the export, and the aid supplies were shipped from Incheon Port to Dalian Port on April 1 before finally arriving at Nampo Port on May 4. However, it was reported that there has been no official confirmation that the supplies actually reached North Korea.

rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter