Jeju Resumes Inter-Korean Exchanges After 16 Years... Aid Supplies Arrive at Nampo Port

Support Includes Medical Equipment, Forest Agents, and Hallabong Saplings
Beijing Agreement Achieved Through Ongoing Trust Built by Citrus Aid
Plans to Gradually Expand into Pig Farming and Tourism Industries

Jeju has officially resumed inter-Korean exchanges for the first time in 16 years by successfully delivering substantial humanitarian aid supplies to North Korea, inheriting the legacy of the "Vitamin C Diplomacy," which once symbolized peace and cooperation between the two Koreas.

The Director of the Tourism Exchange Bureau of Jeju Province explained that Jeju has inherited the legacy of the "Vitamin C Diplomacy," which was once a symbol of inter-Korean peace cooperation, and has successfully delivered substantial humanitarian aid supplies to North Korea, resuming exchanges after 16 years. [Provided by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.]

On June 8, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced that North Korea-bound cooperation items such as medical equipment, forest pest control agents, and Hallabong citrus saplings—promoted as part of an inter-Korean cooperation project—had ultimately arrived at Nampo Port in North Korea after passing through Dalian Port in China.

This shipment was the result of a close cooperation framework established between Jeju Provincial Government and the Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled in North Korea since early February this year.

Previously, a Jeju delegation met with North Korean officials in Beijing in February and reached a general agreement to prioritize projects such as citrus fruit aid, medical welfare, and forest disaster prevention, with plans to gradually expand the scope to pig farming and the tourism industry in the future.

Following this, on March 9, the provincial government submitted an application to the Ministry of Unification for the export of items to North Korea—such as hemodialysis machines and consumables, greenhouse facilities, and pine wilt disease control agents—and ultimately received final approval.

The aid supplies departed from Incheon Port on April 1 and arrived at Nampo Port about a month later. It is currently understood that North Korean partner organizations are taking follow-up actions in line with the intended purposes of the supplies.

The success of this project was driven by all-around cooperation between the public and private sectors: starting with a meeting between the provincial governor and the Minister of Unification in November last year, followed by a request for support from the Chinese ambassador to South Korea, approval of the fund project by the Jeju Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Committee, and the adoption of a government proposal by the provincial council.

This resumption of exchanges is being interpreted as a leading example proving that humanitarian "local diplomacy" led by local governments can serve as a practical breakthrough to ease the stalemate between central governments, even amid strained inter-Korean relations.

In particular, by revitalizing Jeju's unique citrus aid project—which served as a catalyst for reconciliation between the two Koreas from 1998 to 2018—the province has laid the foundation for an advanced model of sustainable cooperation that goes beyond one-off aid. The project now also aims to address climate change (through forest disaster prevention) and build healthcare infrastructure, thus enabling the two Koreas to pursue mutual prosperity and a sustainable future together.

An official from Jeju Province stated, "Although this shipment of aid to North Korea is a meaningful achievement that has reopened the channel for the first time in 16 years, the unique nature of inter-Korean relations and diplomatic sensitivities make it difficult to disclose specific budget sizes or detailed future plans at this time. However, we will continue to ensure that this small-scale inter-Korean cooperation project, led by Jeju, is managed so it can be sustained without interruption."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.