The government will create a North Korea support program by 2010 in order to systematically provide assistance to the country's underprivileged, including babies and pregnant women.

The Unification Ministry said Monday the plan calls for a pilot project by civic groups this year, and will be carried out separately by the government and international organizations in the three areas of nutrition promotion, disease control and health management.

The Ministry unveiled the humanitarian assistance plan during its briefing to the President on April 28th and is seeking to establish a joint trust fund with the World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund and International Vaccine Institute.