North Korea

 

Australian development assistance to North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

Australian bilateral development assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been suspended since late 2002 following revelations about the DPRK's nuclear program. Australia has made clear that any resumption of bilateral assistance would be contingent on DPRK’s progress towards denuclearisation. Missile and nuclear tests as well as the sinking of a ROK naval ship by North Korea has ensured this suspension remains in force.

While Australia does not have a development cooperation program with North Korea, we do provide humanitarian assistance in response to protracted emergency and regular natural disasters that DPRK faces. Since 1994, Australia has provided over $50 million in humanitarian assistance with a focus on food aid, water supply, sanitation and disaster management. Our aid is channelled through multilateral agencies—principally the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC)—not the DPRK authorities.