Seoul: The South Korean government is ready to provide medical equipment to North Korea if requested by Pyongyang, as revealed in a unification ministry report. The report indicates that Seoul has already secured United Nations approval and necessary budget allocations to facilitate this aid.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the report was submitted to Rep. Kim Dai-sik of the main opposition People Power Party. The plan involves supplying 166 types of medical equipment to Kangdong County Hospital in Pyongyang. This hospital is the first completed under North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's initiative to build factories and medical facilities nationwide.

While the ministry did not specify the exact items to be provided, it assured that essential equipment for diagnosis, surgery, and treatment would be included. Current United Nations sanctions prohibit the provision of industrial machinery, including medical equipment, to North Korea.

However, Seoul has obtained a sanctions exemption from the U.N. Security Council sanctions committee. The South Korean government plans to use the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to finance this project. A government official highlighted a proactive approach, indicating that all logistical issues have been addressed to enable immediate assistance upon North Korea's acceptance.

Since 2024, North Korea has been implementing its Regional Development 20 X 10 Policy, which aims to construct modern facilities in 20 regions annually over a decade to enhance rural living standards. As part of this initiative, North Korea seeks to build modern hospitals and public amenities to reduce the urban-rural divide, with Kangdong County Hospital completing its construction in November 2025.