The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reiterated its commitment to the cause of humanitarian work in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPR

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reiterated its commitment to the cause of humanitarian work in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stating that the organisation "remains ready to provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea and resume projects suspended during the coronavirus pandemic." 

In an interview with Yonhap News Agency, Olivier Ray, ICRC's Director for mobilisation, movement and partnerships, said that while the organisation does not have access to the DPRK due to the pandemic restrictions in place, it maintains contact with the Red Cross Society of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 

The director also stated that the North Korean officials are aware of the ICRC's intentions to resume operations in Pyongyang. 

This statement from the ICRC comes in the backdrop of growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea's rampant missile tests and the United States-Republic of Korea's provocative joint military exercises have severely threatened the status quo on the Korean Peninsula in recent times. Given the severity of the situation, as North Korea considers the possibility of a seventh nuclear test, the ICRC's commitment to humanitarian operations provides a new ray of hope for the commencement of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula.

The question of aid has been a contentious issue on the Korean Peninsula. Several international aid organisations have been compelled to cease operations in the DPRK due to the government's strict policy apparatus.  While some organisations like the MSF have criticised the North Korean government's stance, other organisations have continued working in a spirit of humanitarian resolve. 

Furthering aid has been criticised on numerous grounds in the past. The criticisms levied against humanitarian support have broadly been two fold: criticism on moral grounds and criticism citing lack of effectiveness. 

The arguments under criticism on moral grounds generally deal with the conduct of the international organisations working in the DPRK. It is argued that by working under such strict conditions, the international organisations cannot provide effective assistance to the needy. Another criticism made against the international organisations is that by deciding to continue operations in the DPRK, they support the regime and it's actions, even justifying its nuclear proliferation programme. The international organisations, however, claim that their conduct is based on humanitarian grounds and cooperation with the regime is part and parcel of providing humanitarian support in the DPRK. An example is the WFP which has worked with the DPRK government in providing food aid while not working as a distributing agency but furthering assistance to the government to fulfill the food aid programme. 

The arguments under lack of effectiveness generally deal with the policy aspect of humanitarian operations. Many policymakers believe that the humanitarian support does not materialise into peaceful conduct from the DPRK. According to them, it is this lack of effectiveness that not only fails to provide results but also funds the North Korean military buildup in some capacity. Hence, there is a growing disenchantment with the idea of providing aid to the DPRK at a policy level.

However, furthering aid provides an effective channel of diplomacy which can be exploited to extract meaningful results. 

Due to its recalcitrant posturing, the DPRK has been difficult to engage with in the past. This has led to numerous breakdowns in relations over the past few decades. While the DPRK has been apprehensive of the United States and the international community since the Korean War, it has never refused to accept aid and international help. The fall of the Soviet Union and the stagnation of its economy in the 90s has made North Korea realise the need for assistance in order to ensure survival. The Sunshine Policy under President Kim Dae-jung and the reconciliatory policies under President Moon Jae-in are testament to North Korea's willingness to cooperate in case its security concerns are neutralised. Aid and humanitarian assistance can form the bedrock of better relations between North Korea and the international community. By furthering aid the international community can work towards establishing confidence building measures with the North Korean government and can inturn facilitate reduction of hostilities on the Korean Peninsula. 

In this respect, humanitarian support offers an effective channel of diplomacy in dealing with North Korea. The reserves of trust established by furthering international humanitarian support can be used as a stepping stone to achieve dialogue and cooperation. However, a major issue with regard to the humanitarian operations in the DPRK is the lack of a joint framework among the international organisations. By establishing a common set of guidelines in collaboration with the North Korean government the international organisations can aim to solidify humanitarian support in the DPRK and ensure that the aid reaches the needy. 

Similarly, the lack of effectiveness can also be tackled if humanitarian support is provided to the DPRK without the expectation of an immediate dismantling of its nuclear proliferation program. Nuclear Disarmament must be seen as a goal to be achieved in the future and alternate channels of diplomacy like providing humanitarian support can work as a medium towards ensuring this goal is achieved effectively. 

The ICRC's statement comes at a time when North Korea is going through an agricultural crisis. Given the acute food shortages that the country is bound to face in the coming months it is imperative that it will require humanitarian support. The international community must capitalise on the opportunity and use this crisis as a way of bettering relations with the North Korean regime. While it is bound to be a long drawn process, a foundation laid on mutual trust and cooperation can lead the way in achieving a peaceful regime on the Korean Peninsula. Each occurring crisis presents a new opportunity for the international community to deal with the hostilities emerging in the Northeast Asian region. It is just about how long can the United States and Republic of Korea maintain parity with reality. 

Can Aid Initiate Dialogue on the Korean Peninsula

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