The government reportedly plans to make an official offer early this week to provide assistance in North Korea's fight against COVID-19.

A senior government official said on Sunday that the Seoul government is considering officially making the proposal to the North early this week.

The Unification Ministry is likely to send a notice to the North via a direct cross-border communication hotline at the liaison office to make the proposal after consultation with related ministries. The ministry is expected to propose inter-Korean working-level talks to discuss the assistance.

However, it is uncertain if the North will react positively to the proposal, given that leader Kim Jong-un said that the virus situation is not out of control.

North Korea, which confirmed its first case of COVID-19 last Thursday, reported 15 new deaths and nearly 300-thousand new fever cases on Saturday.