U.S. has provided $1.28 bln in aid to N. Korea since 1994: report

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, May 13 (Yonhap) -- The United States has provided US$1.28 billion in
energy, food and other aid to North Korea since 1994, when the sides reached an
agreement to freeze North Korea's plutonium-producing facilities, according to a
report.
Food aid accounted for the lion's share, 2.25 million tons worth $706 million,
according to the Congressional Research Service report released recently.
So far in fiscal year 2009, which began in October, the U.S. has shipped 21,000
tons of food to the North in humanitarian aid, the report said.
The shipments stopped in March, when North Korea evicted U.S. and other
international food donors amid worsening relations and threats by the North to
boycott the six-party talks on ending its nuclear programs.
Another large part of the investment -- $403.7 million-- was on the construction
of two light-water reactors, being built under the 1994 Geneva Agreed Framework.
The agreement calls for the provision of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil to the
North in exchange for the North's freezing reactors that can churn out
weapons-grade plutonium.
A total of $146 million worth of heavy fuel oil has been provided to the North
since 1994 under the Framework Agreement and ensuing six-party talks. The U.S.
has provided 200,000 tons of heavy fuel oil worth $146 million.
An additional $20 million has been funneled to the North to help disable nuclear
facilities under the six-party process.
The U.S. has provided medical supplies and other necessities worth $9.4 million.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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