Despite a lingering standoff over North Korea's nuclear program, the U.S. announced Friday it would provide some 50,000 tons of food aid to the communist state.
U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said the aid was to solely help North Korean residents and not intended to affect the ongoing six-party nuclear talks in any way, fending off political interpretation of its humanitarian support.
He said Washington will donate the aid through the U.N.'s World Food Program, which told U.S. officials the North has allowed more foreign visits to food aid distribution sites over the past six months.
Starting Tuesday, Seoul also began deliveries of a total 100,000 tons of rice in the form of government loans to the North.