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The Geopolitics of Humanitarian Assistance to North Korea under International Sanctions

대북 제재와 인도적 원조의 지정학

  • 이종운 (한신대학교 평화교육센터)
  • Received : 2019.12.23
  • Published : 2019.12.31

Abstract

International aid to North Korea remains far below the humanitarian needs of vulnerable people. This paper examines the trajectory of international humanitarian assistance to North Korea over the last two decades with the focus on its decline in the context of the country's nuclear standoff and corresponding stringent sanctions. In so doing, the paper addresses major problems associated with North Korea's reception of foreign aid and operational constraints placed on humanitarian activities in the country. It shows that humanitarian assistance to North Korea has been largely shaped by geopolitical dynamics. A survey of UN reports and statistics also suggests a shifting trend in recent international aid to North Korea. The decline of aid and multiple operational obstacles faced by humanitarian organizations, for instance, have led to a fall in agricultural support and a proportional rise in health and related services. While UN Security Council resolutions include an exemption provision, humanitarian assistance to North Korea has been constrained by stringent sanctions, which have led to adverse consequences for the civilian population. In this regard, the paper suggests some policy directions for international aid to North Korea amidst negotiations over denuclearization, while stressing an urgent need to address the negative impact of sanctions on vulnerable groups in the country.

북한의 핵·미사일 개발과 이에 대응한 국제사회의 강도 높은 경제제재가 실행되면서 대북 인도적 지원은 2010년대 매우 낮은 수준에 머물고 있다. 본고는 대북지원의 향후 방향을 모색하기 위해 국제사회가 그동안 진행해 온 인도적 원조의 추이와 성과, 문제점을 살펴보고, 대북지원 개선방안을 제시하고자 한다. 북핵문제가 악화되면서 원조를 정치적으로 도구화하는 경향이 심화되었다. 또한 모금실적 부진으로 국제기구와 단체들의 지원활동이 구호형 사업으로 명맥을 겨우 유지하면서 원조의 질적 수준과 개발협력 효과성이 매우 낮은 실정이다. 대북지원의 현격한 감소 원인으로 경제제재 자체 효과와 함께 원조 장기화에 따른 공여국과 단체들의 피로감 증대, 북한당국의 외부 지원활동에 대한 과도한 제약 등이 작용하고 있다. 본 연구는 국제기구 보고서와 유엔통계 분석을 통해 2010년대 국제사회의 대북지원 동향에서 드러나는 특징의 하나로 농업분야 지원의 비중은 낮아지고 보건·의료 분야가 확대된 것을 밝혔다. 인도주의적 원조는 빈곤 완화와 취약계층을 보호하기 위한 국제사회의 보편적 가치 실현이 강조된다. UN 안보리 대북제재 결의안에서도 경제제재가 일반주민들에 대한 부정적 영향 초래 및 원조단체의 구호활동을 제한할 의도가 없음을 명확히 하고 있다. 따라서 고강도의 경제제재로 인해 실질적으로 크게 제약 받고 있는 대북 인도지원 활동에 대한 확대조치가 진행되어야 하며, 나아가 국제개발협력의 플랫폼이 되고 있는 지속가능개발목표(SDGs)와 연계된 원조 실행이 필요하다.

Keywords

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