Unification Minister Chung Dong-young says Seoul will independently decide on the matter of government aid to North Korea in consideration of various circumstances.

Chung's comments on Monday were in part a retort to earlier remarks by U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde characterizing Seoul and Beijing's provision of aid to Pyongyang as "inappropriate".

Minister Chung noted that Seoul had provided aid to North Korea after considering humanitarian, inter-Korean and security-related circumstances and in the belief that it would be conducive to fostering long-term inter-Korean peace and cooperation.

The ministry chief also addressed Hyde's criticism of Seoul's decision to drop the term "main enemy" in reference to North Korea from a recent defense white paper. Asserting that Seoul regards the U.S. as an ally and North Korea as a "compatriot", Chung pointed out that no country in the world, including the U.S., singles out specific enemies in defense white papers.

The South Korean minister claimed Hyde lacked understanding of the objectives and spirit of the Seoul-Washington alliance, citing the Illinois Republican's comments urging Seoul to clearly identify its enemy if it wants to receive help in times of trouble.

Chung also pointed out that Seoul had deployed the third-largest troop contingent to Iraq in consideration of its close ties with the U.S. and to support the U.S.-led war against terror.

The Korean official said such comments as those made by Hyde would be of no help to ongoing efforts to secure peace between the two Koreas.