Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Kim Jina Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs at International Forum on Humanitarian Cooperation for Peaceful Coexistence and Shared Growth on the Korean[...]

Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Kim Jina

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

International Forum on Humanitarian Cooperation

for Peaceful Coexistence and Shared Growth on the Korean Peninsula

December 3, 2025, Seoul

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentleman,

It is a privilege to welcome you to today's seminar on humanitarian cooperation with the DPRK. Your presence-amid numerous global challenges-reflects a simple but powerful truth: human suffering must never be relegated to the margins.

This year marks thirty years since the international community first rallied in response to DPRK's devastating food crisis. Since then, humanitarian support has remained the essential means of safeguarding the dignity and survival of ordinary North Koreans. When all other channels closed, humanitarian cooperation endured as the one bridge that could still reach people in need.

The Republic of Korea has long held that such assistance must remain insulated from politics. We will continue working with the international community to uphold this sincere principle. For us, supporting human life is not separate from peacebuilding; it is the earliest and most enduring foundation of peace.

Yet we face a sobering reality: humanitarian cooperation with the DPRK has, in many ways, come to a halt. Since the pandemic, access has narrowed, and even basic visibility into the humanitarian situation has diminished. Although Pyongyang has reopened some foreign missions and expanded selective diplomatic engagement, it has not responded to broader international efforts to resume humanitarian work. Meanwhile, shifting geopolitical alignments-especially the deepening DPRK-Russia cooperation-have further drawn attention away from humanitarian work.

Still, opportunities remain, and we cannot wait for ideal conditions. In last year's Universal Periodic Review, the DPRK expressed willingness to improve education, health, and support for vulnerable people. Its Local Development Policy emphasizes new hospitals and livelihood of ordinary people, and specifically focused initiatives in that regard. And with the upcoming Ninth Party Congress and a new Five-Year Economic Development Plan, Pyongyang is likely to continue prioritizing basic welfare.

These signals do not guarantee cooperation, but they do offer entry points, in my view. And history reminds us that even the narrowest opening can become a lifeline when met with creativity and persistence.

Improving the humanitarian conditions of the North Korean people is not optional-it is a responsibility, a test of our resolve, and values, and a measure of our commitment to peace. The Republic of Korea has put forward a vision of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. Humanitarian cooperation is the groundwork for realizing that vision: reopening engagement, rebuilding trust, and advancing human rights and human security.

Progress requires a genuine community of partners-governments, civil society, and international organizations-each contributing distinct strength. We must pursue innovative avenues for cooperation across food security, public health, climate change, environmental protection, as well as cultural exchange.

There will be moments when our efforts seem unanswered, when outreach is met with silence. But silence should not be read as a dead end; it simply indicates that the timing for cooperation has not yet arrived.

As we begin today's discussions, I encourage us all to speak with candor, think with ambition, and remember the purpose that unites us: that real lives are at stake, and that a more peaceful Korean Peninsula begins with ensuring its most vulnerable people are not forgotten. We must ensure that in our mind, and thank you for your participation.