Jeju resumes North Korea exchanges after 16 years with aid including citrus saplings, dialysis machines

Jeju Province has rekindled inter-Korean exchange projects after a 16-year hiatus, sending a package of aid including Hallabong citrus saplings, pine wilt nematode treatment, and kidney dialysis machines. The shipment, valued at 160 million won, reached North Korea's Nampo Port on April 4, transiting through Dalian, China.

This initiative, dubbed 'Vitamin C diplomacy,' was revived following discussions in November between Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon and Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young. Governor Oh emphasized the need to restart the 'Jeju Tangerine Sending Project,' a program historically known for its Vitamin C diplomacy. Minister Chung expressed full support for Jeju's proposed inter-Korean exchange initiatives.

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Jeju's proposed inter-Korean exchange initiatives have my full support and will be actively assisted.

The exchange program, which saw Jeju send a total of 66,000 tons of tangerines and carrots to North Korea between 1999 and 2010, was suspended following the May 24th North Korean sanctions in 2010. The recent resumption involved negotiations where Jeju's delegation met with North Korean officials in Beijing in February. They agreed to prioritize cooperation in citrus, medical welfare, and forest pest control, with plans to expand into pig farming and tourism.

Jeju's governor had previously requested support for inter-Korean cooperation from the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea. The Unification Ministry approved Jeju's aid request in March. While North Korea also requested Hallabong fruit, only saplings were sent due to concerns about spoilage. Kim Yang-bo, Jeju's Director of Tourism and Exchange, stated that the North Korean partner organization, the Korean Association for Supporting the Disabled, is handling the follow-up measures, but a formal response has not yet been received.

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The currently supported goods are presumed to be undergoing follow-up measures by the North Korean cooperation organization, the Korean Association for Supporting the Disabled.