North Korea gives first financial aid since 2005, granting a whopping $300,000 to Myanmar
South Korea donates $900,000 to conflict-ridden Myanmar, says UN body
(about 5 hours later)
UN data has revealed that Pyongyang has recently made its first financial donation since 2005, granting $300,000 to a UN-led humanitarian aid initiative for Myanmar, which has suffered hugely following a February coup.
The South Korean government has granted $900,000 to a UN-led humanitarian aid initiative for Myanmar, which has suffered hugely following February’s coup.
On Thursday, data from the financial tracking service of the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs showed that the North Korean government has responded to a call for funding, representing Pyongyang’s first financial donation since 2005.
Editor's note: The article has been corrected to show that it’s South Korea, not North Korea, that has made a donation to Myanmar. A spokesman for the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said data that had appeared earlier on its financial tracking service showing a contribution of $300,000 by North Korea was wrong. The website has since been updated and the $300,000 has been added to South Korea’s existing donation of $600,000.
The initiative, which seeks funding for conflict-ridden Myanmar, calls for $276 million from donors. North Korea’s donation of $300,000 is marginally less than France’s contribution of $302,663. Nearly half of the $51 million already granted has been donated by the US.
On Thursday, data from the financial tracking service of the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs showed that the South Korean government has responded to a UN call for funding.
The North Korean contribution was made on May 24 and marks the first financial aid given by the secretive state for 16 years, when it gave $150,000 to a UN program aimed at alleviating suffering following the devastating tsunami in December 2004 which hit countries including Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The initiative, which seeks funding for conflict-ridden Myanmar, calls for $276 million from donors. South Korea’s donation of $900,000 is marginally less than Ireland's contribution of $1,188,838 but more than what France and Finland donated. Nearly half of the $58 million already granted has been given by the US. The two next largest donors are Japan and the UK, representing 13.2% and 7.2%, respectively.
North Korea has a long-standing relationship with Myanmar. UN monitors claim Pyongyang has sold weapons to the Southeast Asian nation in recent years and they are also investigating missile cooperation between the two nations.
Myanmar’s government was overthrown by the military in February 2021 and the resulting clashes have seen hundreds die. The military junta has vowed to return power to a democratically elected government in time but has engaged in repeated crackdowns on pro-democracy protests.
Myanmar’s government was overthrown by the military in February 2021 and the resulting clashes have seen hundreds die. The military junta has vowed to return power to a democratically elected government in time but has engaged in repeated crackdowns on pro-democracy protests.
North Korea is one of the world’s poorest countries and on Tuesday, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un admitted that the country needed to tackle a “tense” food situation. The nation’s problems have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and typhoons in 2020. Reports suggest food prices have sky-rocketed and a kilogram of bananas costs $45. Pyongyang is also under international sanctions due to its nuclear program.
