Key facts
- South Korea is ready to provide medical equipment to North Korea if asked.
- The government has secured U.N. sanctions exemption and budget for the aid.
- 166 types of medical equipment are planned for supply to Kangdong County Hospital in Pyongyang.
- The hospital's construction was completed in November 2025.
- The aid is intended to improve living standards in rural regions.
SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government is fully prepared to provide medical equipment to North Korea as soon as it is asked by Pyongyang, according to a unification ministry report. The government has already secured a United Nations sanctions exemption and allocated funds from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to finance the project.
The report, submitted to Rep. Kim Dai-sik of the main opposition People Power Party, stated that Seoul plans to supply 166 types of essential medical equipment for diagnosis, surgery, and treatment to Kangdong County Hospital in Pyongyang. This hospital is the first to be completed under North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's initiative to build modern facilities across the country.
Under existing U.N. sanctions, industrial machinery, including medical equipment, is prohibited from being provided to North Korea. However, Seoul has obtained the necessary exemption from the U.N. Security Council sanctions committee. A government official described the approach as "ready to go," with sanctions and funding issues addressed in advance to allow for immediate provision of assistance once North Korea agrees to accept it.
North Korea has been pursuing its Regional Development 20 X 10 Policy since 2024, aiming to build modern facilities in 20 regional areas annually over a decade to enhance rural living standards. The construction of Kangdong County Hospital was finished in November 2025.