In the midst of escalating tension in the Korean peninsula, some good things are still happening between the two countries that have been divided by their ideology.

The South Korean government recently granted an $8 million aid package for the North in spite of calls by the United States and Japan for more crippling sanctions against Kim Jong-un’s communist regime. This humanitarian gesture by South Korea might place itself at odds with its allies, Malta Today reported. Apparently, it contradicted President Moon and President Trump’s agreement to intensify diplomatic and economic pressures on the communist regime.

Is South Korea now defying the United Nations?

The members of the United Nations Security Council had already reached an agreement to impose new sanctions on Kim’s regime as a response to its latest Hydrogen bomb test. However, just days after that, the unification ministry of South Korea approved funding programs for infants and pregnant women in North Korea.

The task of South Korea’s unification ministry is to administer cross-border relations. According to Cho Myung-gyon, the unification minister of South Korea, the escalating political tensions on the Korean peninsula should never affect the humanitarian aid provided to the North Koreans who are living in poor conditions. Among them are pregnant women and their children.

According to Malta Today, the ministry assured that the $8 million aid package for the North does not actually involve cash payments. Therefore, it is impossible that it could be used to fund the military activities of Kim Jong-un.

Japan’s reaction to South Korea’s $8 million aid package

In a telephone call, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan requested President Moon to reconsider the timing of the $8 million aid package for North Korea, the Guardian reported.

In addition, Yoshihide Suga, the spokesperson of the Japanese Government, said South Korea’s move could possibly undermine the efforts of the international community to pressure Kim Jong-un’s regime.

South Korea’s package for the North

The nutrition-rich supplies, which approximately cost $4.5 million, will be given to North Korea’s pregnant women and their children through the World Food Program of the United Nations.

An additional $3.5 million will be given to Unicef to fund vaccinations as well as medication for malnutrition, acute respiratory diseases, and diarrhea, according to South Korea’s unification ministry. According to the United Nations, there are over 18 million North Koreans who are actually in need of medical assistance because of severe malnutrition.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and President Moon are due for a discussion on the North Korean crisis on the sidelines of the UNGA.