(LEAD) S. Korea approves US$8 mln in aid to N. Korea via U.N. agencies

All News 11:06 September 21, 2017

(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; ADDS more details, background throughout)

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday approved US$8 million in aid to North Korea via U.N. agencies as it seeks to handle humanitarian issues separately from political situations.

The government decided at an interagency meeting to support infants and pregnant women in North Korea, citing a serious humanitarian crisis facing them, according to Seoul's unification ministry.

The move came amid concerns that Seoul's aid may compromise international efforts to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and missile programs.

"The government will weigh the timing of an actual provision and size after taking into account various factors, such as inter-Korean situations," the ministry said in a statement.

Seoul stressed that the issue of extending aid to North Korea should be handled regardless of political considerations.

A U.N. report showed that about 72 percent of the 24.9 million North Koreans are suffering from food shortages and malnutrition. Among them, 1.3 million, including children and pregnant women, are in acute need for help.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that North Korean children under the age of 5 are in special danger due to chronic malnutrition and an inadequate health care system.

It marked the first humanitarian assistance by Seoul under the Moon Jae-in administration, which took office in May. It will also mark the resumption of aid via U.N. organizations, which ended in December 2015.

South Korea offered humanitarian assistance to the North even under conservative administrations. But the government under ousted President Park Geun-hye, Moon's predecessor, held off on providing the aid after the North's fourth nuclear test in January 2016.

In May, Seoul announced its move to spur civilian inter-Korean exchanges and assistance, but North Korea has rejected them, citing the South's support of U.N. sanctions.