South Korea is considering giving food aid to North Korea through a U.N. agency, after Seoul halted direct shipments of rice because of political tensions with its neighbour, a government official said on Thursday, according to Reuters. A Unification Ministry spokesman said the U.N. World Food Programme has asked South Korea to contribute $60 million to the WFP's plan to feed more than 6 million of the neediest people in North Korea, which has a population of 23 million. "Our stance has always been (that if there is a dire need), humanitarian assistance can be given unconditionally, regardless of political issues," said spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon. The WFP last month said parts of North Korea were experiencing their worst food shortages in nearly a decade. Kim said South Korea, which has contributed to aid programmes for North Korea before under previous presidents, has yet to make a decision on the WFP request. The $60 million could buy about 75,000 tonnes of rice or 150,000 tonnes or corn. South Korea has typically given about 400,000 tonnes of rice a year directly to North Korea, which battles chronic shortages, but ties chilled between the states after a new South Korean president took office in February with pledges to get tough on Pyongyang. Paul Risley, a WFP spokesman, confirmed the agency had asked South Korea to contribute to its aid programme, which has greatly expanded this year.
