The U.S. administration of Donald Trump has approved sanctions exemptions for "humanitarian assistance projects for North Korea" that had been on hold.
According to government sources on the 6th, the Trump administration has decided to move forward with exemptions for sanctions that had been on hold at the U.N. Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee. Cho Hyun, Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting the United States, proposed this to the U.S. side, and the U.S. side accepted it, according to reports.
Established under Security Council Resolution 1718 in 2006, the committee oversees the implementation of sanctions on North Korea. However, because the United States had taken a negative stance on exemptions, citing the potential diversion of humanitarian aid supplies, applications by domestic civic groups for sanctions exemptions for humanitarian assistance to the North were rarely approved.
Some analysts say this indicates measures were taken to improve U.S.-North Korea relations ahead of President Trump's visit to China in April. Earlier, a senior South Korean government official visiting the United States said regarding North Korea-related issues, "It seems there will be some new progress within a few days." The official, however, added, "It is something like a gesture that could serve as a starting point for progress," and "It is not up to U.S.-North Korea talks."
However, given that North Korea still shows no interest in humanitarian assistance to the North, some say it remains to be seen whether this will proceed to the implementation stage.