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| North Korean cheerleaders encourage Un Song-choe of North Korea during the Olympic men's 1500-meter short-track speed skating competition at the Gangneung Ice Arena Feb. 10. / Yonhap |
By Choi Ha-young
The government decided to use the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to cover the cost of the North Koreans' stay in the South during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the Ministry of Unification said Wednesday.
The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Committee under the ministry said it approved about 2.86 billion won ($2.64 million). This is to cover costs of the North Korean cheering squad, the art troupe and the taekwondo demonstration team.
The government will pay the money to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympics and Paralympics, the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee, World Taekwondo, and other relevant bodies that hosted events involving the North Korean delegation.
"The funding is in accordance with the inter-Korean agreements on Jan. 9 and 17, under which Seoul promised to provide conveniences for the North Korean delegates," the ministry said. "Given the international economic sanctions against the North, we will closely consult with international society."
The fund, set up in 1990, is committed to back up effective inter-Korean exchanges, including reunions of divided families, humanitarian relief and support for joint economic initiatives.
Separately, another review committee under the ministry approved spending of 27 million won for two North Korean delegations that came before the Olympics to check the facilities for the art troupe and athletes.
Meanwhile, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung had closed-door meetings with envoys from neighboring countries to explain the developments following the high-level North Korean delegates' recent visit to the South, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong.
On Wednesday, Chun had talks with Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong and acting U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper in separate meetings. He told them about the delegates' messages, including Kim Jong-un's offer to have a summit soon with President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang. Chun also asked for the countries' cooperation in improving inter-Korean relations and peacefully resolving the issue of the North's nuclear and missile programs.
The ministry did not make public details of what they discussed.
A day earlier, Chun met Japanese Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine. There, the vice minister promised cooperation with the Japanese government and international players to sustain the improvements in inter-Korean relations.
President Moon, who has sought better ties with the North, had meetings with high-level North Korean officials during their three-day visit to the South. In talks at Cheong Wa Dae Saturday, Kim Yo-jong delivered Kim Jong-un's message inviting Moon to Pyongyang.
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