South Korea has hinted that it will not approve food aid by civic groups to North Korea for the time being.

A Unification Ministry official told reporters on Tuesday that the government is not considering approving civic groups’ delivery of food aid to North Korea, including rice or flour.

The official said however if the government receives a request for its approval for humanitarian aid, it could positively review it after taking into account factors such as beneficiaries and transparency of distribution.

The official said that eight civilian groups in the health care sector sought the government’s approval for their aid plans, and the government approved seven of them. The official said that other groups in the forestry sector also requested approval, but refused to elaborate any further regarding the groups.