The South Korean government is said to be considering sending food aid to North Korea as estimates say the communist regime's food shortage stands at more than one million tons.
In a meeting last week, government officials and members of the ruling Grand National Party are said to have decided to send food to the North next month to help alleviate this shortage.
Government officials are considering to send the aid after the Chuseok holidays in the beginning of October after reviewing the North's rice harvest output.
Minister Kim Hajoong of the Unification Ministry had already expressed his will to actively look into sending food assistance to the North last week.
[Interview : Kim Honyoun, Unification Ministry Spokesman] "To send assistance we have to decide on the specific amount and the timing. We've already said we'll make the decision after consulting with the related government offices."
The government is now said to be considering the route through which to send aid namely if it will be through the United Nations' World Food Programme which has already requested emergency aid to the North or through direct contact with the communist regime.
The Grand National Party is said to be leaning towards direct aid as it will be a chance to gain contact with the communist nation after relations have been badly hurt since the shooting death of a South Korean tourist in North Korea's Mount Geumgang.
[Reporter : Ahn Jisu] "North Korea recently announced a halt to its nuclear disablement and moved some of its equipment out of storage and back to its reactor site. How these latest developments will affect South Korea's decision to send aid remains to be seen.
Ahn Jisu, Arirang News."
SEP 09, 2008
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in National News |
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Arirang Town
Tuesday, FEB 09, 2010, (KST) 
