By Lee Hana

Korea has approved a plan to send USD 8 million in humanitarian aid to North Korea through U.N. organizations.

The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-Gyon at Government Complex Seoul on Sept. 21, where officials decided to pursue humanitarian aid through the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

According to the plan, Seoul will send USD 3.5 million worth of vaccines and medicine through UNICEF and USD 4.5 million worth of nutritional products for children and pregnant women through the WFP. All aid will be sent as provisions.

The exact timing of when the aid will be distributed will be confirmed at a later date, taking into account various factors such as the state of affairs and inter-Korean relations, the ministry said in a statement.

"Our government has consistently stated that we will pursue humanitarian aid for North Korea's impoverished pregnant women and children, apart from political issues," said Minister Cho. "It is also the view of the global community that we should separate humanitarian aid from politics," he added.

hlee10@korea.kr