The U.S. Department of State announced up to $3 million in funding for projects relating to North Korean human rights, a roughly 25% increase from the $2.4 million offered in a similar announcement in January this year.

The funding will be provided to organizations that promote “human rights and accountability” in the DPRK during the inaugural year of President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.

Coming amid a diplomatic lull and U.S. leadership-level criticism of North Korea’s human rights situation, the grant money could be met with consternation from the DPRK. A high-level North Korean official condemned the United Nations for “meddling”