Seoul ready to provide medical equipment to North Korea if asked

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.