S Korean aid groups demand lifting of ban on trips to DPRK

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korean aid groups said Monday that the South Korean government should stop its "arbitrary" selection of their funding projects in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and lift the current ban on trips to the nation.

The aid groups' remarks came amid the government's resuming 3.57 billion-won (2.92 million-U.S. dollar) worth of humanitarian aid to the DPRK through non-governmental organizations this week.

Having frozen such funding for months after the DPRK's rocket launch and nuclear attempts, the South Korean government was recently reported to announce 10 local aid groups to fund.

Hours before the government's announcement, an emergency meeting was held among Seoul-based aid organizations related to cooperation with the DPRK, during which the groups criticized the government decision that it will only drive the projects to division and competition.

Later, South Korea's unification ministry announced the names of the funding recipients, mostly those focused on helping "disadvantaged groups" like infants, children, women and the disabled.

The ministry said they selected the groups based on the urgency and effects of their operations, excluding long-term development projects like farming and industrial aid.

Last week, Seoul approved of the first humanitarian visit to the DPRK since the nuclear test, allowing World Vision's team to pay an eight-day trip to Pyongyang and provincial towns.

The move was hinting at a policy shift in the South Korean government though restrictions are still effective, local media reported.

During the first half of this year, South Korea executed only 2.8 percent of its yearly budget for economic and humanitarian aid to the DPRK, according to ministry data.