Blue House awaits North Korea's response after UN exempts sanctions on humanitarian aid
Published: 07 Feb. 2026, 15:34
Updated: 07 Feb. 2026, 17:47
![The Blue House in central Seoul [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/07/b83f0a15-bf1d-4694-85d6-9bf6abb9dea0.jpg)
The Blue House in central Seoul [YONHAP]
The UNSC 1718 Committee on sanctions against North Korea reached the unanimous decision on Thursday to exempt sanctions on 17 humanitarian projects for the North, according to sources in Seoul.
Sources say that Foreign Minister Cho Hyun asked for the Trump administration's support in providing the sanctions exemptions for the pending aid projects during his talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week.
The United States is one of the five permanent UNSC member states that hold veto power over binding UN decisions. The aid projects had reportedly been held up due to Washington's objections.
"Humanitarian assistance for North Korea should continue irrespective of political circumstances," a Blue House official said.
"The UNSC sanctions on North Korea clearly state that the sanctions measures are not intended at limiting those humanitarian aid activities," the official said.
The official added that the government anticipates North Korea will "respond positively to the good-faith of the international community to help improve its humanitarian situations and to Seoul's efforts toward peaceful co-existence on the Korean Peninsula."
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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