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GNP lawmakers break hard-line stance, ask for supplies for N.K.
The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), which has all along led the call for a hard-line stance towards North Korea, is now calling on the government to provide the North with pharmaceuticals and other necessities in response to recent flooding. "The GNP welcomes the effort by [South Korean] private groups to give aid to North Korean storm victims," said party spokeswoman Na Kyung-won at a press briefing held following a session of the party's supreme committee. "The government must quickly verify the flood damage situation in the North," she said. "We call on it to provide the pharmaceuticals and other supplies needed by victims of the recent rains," adding that necessities beyond pharmaceuticals could include instant ramyeon noodles, beverages, and other emergency supplies, but should exclude rice.The GNP has long criticized the government for "pouring" assistance on Pyongyang. How the government will respond to its call for aid to the North has yet to be seen. Ruling Uri Party floor leader Kim Han-kil said Thursday that giving food aid through private groups is necessary "when you think of the serious rain damage." "Governmental aid for the North was halted when it fired missiles, and [the government] decided it will only resume aid when the North returns to the six-party talks," said Kim. "It would be hard to imagine the government immediately giving more aid." Pomnyun, a Buddhist monk and chairman of an organization who has already sent donations to the North in the wake of the flooding, issued a statement on Thursday along with former GNP Assembly member Yun Yeo-jun, former Uri chairman Lee Boo-young, and seven other individuals, calling on "the Korean people, the Korean government, and the international community" to "immediately begin giving aid to the North Korean people who are suffering from a terrible disaster." The statement called on the government to withdraw its decision to halt food, fertilizer, and other humanitarian aid, and also for North Korea to allow the separated family reunions which it had cancelled to resume. The South Korean Committee for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration also called for assistance in response to the rains and flooding, and began collecting donations. It issued a statement that said it hopes to see the North resume separated family reunions in response to the emergency aid. June 15 refers to the historical pact of friendship and cooperation signed between the two Koreas in 2000.
