Asia-Pacific

ROK approves extra humanitarian aid to DPRK

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-09 14:04

SEOUL - South Korea on Monday approved additional humanitarian aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), marking the latest in a series of civilian aid efforts after the government allowed resuming humanitarian aid to the DPRK in March.

Five civic groups have been allowed to deliver 830 million won ($769,000) worth of bread, soy milk, basic medical supplies and anti-malaria aid to DPRK, the Ministry of Unification in Seoul said.

Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said in a briefing that the latest assistance brings the total amount of aid sent to DPRK this year to about 2.28 billion won.

South Korea resumed humanitarian assistance to DPRK in March for the first time since last November, when the two Koreas exchanged fire near their disputed western maritime border.

"The government will review and approve other humanitarian aid to infants and other vulnerable people in DPRK by taking into account the necessity and urgency of the aid and the transparency of its distribution," said Chun.