Seoul, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : South Korea is prepared to send more than 1,400 medical supplies to a hospital in Pyongyang under humanitarian assistance. However, negotiations with North Korea are currently stalled, complicating the delivery of these vital items. The Ministry of Unification in South Korea has compiled a list of medical goods across 166 categories.
According to Yonhap News Agency, these supplies are intended for patient examinations, surgeries, and treatments. The list includes diagnostic equipment such as X-ray machines, stethoscopes, and blood pressure monitors, as well as surgical tables and other medical devices. Notably, it also features Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
The assistance package has been prepared in consultation with the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare and medical experts, with an estimated cost of around $6.75 million. In May, the United Nations Security Council’s committee on North Korea sanctions granted an exemption for delivering this medical aid. Nonetheless, the process remains contingent on negotiations with the North Korean side, and adjustments to the list of supplies may be made as needed.
This initiative comes at a time of heightened tension between Seoul and Pyongyang, with communication channels between the two countries nearly inactive. It remains uncertain whether North Korea will accept this humanitarian aid.
Some South Korean lawmakers have expressed security concerns regarding the proposal. They worry that certain medical devices could be misused or repurposed for other objectives, including the production of biochemical weapons or testing weapon systems.
In response to these concerns, South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has argued against linking humanitarian medical assistance to North Korea’s military policies. He emphasized the urgent need to provide humanitarian aid to those in need, citing the dire medical conditions in North Korea.
The proposed assistance is aimed at the Kangdong County Hospital, located on the outskirts of Pyongyang. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony marking the hospital’s completion in November 2025.
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