S. Korea to simplify import procedures for N. Korean processed foods

▲ This Dec. 19, 2023, file photo from Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan, shows North Korean beer. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

inter-Korean ties-trade

S. Korea to simplify import procedures for N. Korean processed foods

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will simplify the import procedures for North Korean processed food in an effort to help resume inter-Korean trade at the private level, the unification ministry said Friday.

The unification ministry, in consultation with other government agencies, drew up revisions to the enforcement decree related to inter-Korean exchange and other regulations in a bid to help facilitate imports of North Korean processed foods, according to ministry officials.

Under the revised measure, importers of North Korean foods will be required to submit import documents at the import approval stage, rather than at the import declaration state, to prevent delays that have often occurred when importers failed to meet import declaration requirements even after obtaining approval.

The envisioned laws also allow importers of North Korean foods to use alternative documents when registering production facilities with the food safety agency, rather than the government documents generally required from exporting countries.

The revisions reflect the currently suspended state of inter-Korean relations, which makes it highly difficult for importers to obtain documents from Pyongyang.

Under the new regulations, on-site safety inspections of the production facilities will also be replaced with precision safety inspection of imported North Korean foods upon their entry into the country.

The unification ministry plans to take administrative steps to finalize the revisions and enactment before implementing them starting in February, the unification ministry said.

A unification ministry official said the revisions are designed to "lay the institutional foundation" for imports of North Korean foods, pledging efforts to revive inter-Korean trade at the private level.

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