Regular Briefing by Minister of Unification (December 28, 2006)
Providing Rice in the Form of a Loan to the North
(Briefing by Minister of Unification)
Minister of Unification Lee Jae-joung gave a briefing on June 26 and announced the government's decision on the providing rice in the form of a loan to the North.
Lee Jae-joung, Minister of Unification
Providing Rice in the Form of a Loan to the North
Minister Lee said the government decided to provide 400,000tons of rice in the form of a loan to the North and the first vessel carrying 3,000tons of rice would leave Gunsan port of the South for Nampo port of the North on June 30.
Regarding the background of the providing the rice, Minister Lee said the North requested the food loan during the 21st Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks and the government made this decision considering the request of the public and the international community on a humanitarian issue.
Also, the Minister Lee said the government would secure transparency in distribution of the rice by being informed the details of the distribution within 30days from the day of acceptance and holding on-the-spot inspections.
