Seoul has begun delivering 100-thousand tons of rice, the first batch of a total pledge of 500-thousand tons, to impoverished North Korea.

Sixty 25-ton trucks carrying a total of one-thousand-500 tons of rice, arrived at the North’s border city of Gaesong, while 40 trucks laden wtih one-thousand tons of rice arrived at a factory near Mount Geumgang after crossing the Military Demarcation Line Tuesday morning.

Some 90-thousand tons of the first batch will be delivered to Gaesong through November and 10-thousand tons to Goseong.

Meanwhile, ships carrying the remaining 400-thousand tons of rice will be depart from the South Korean port of Mokpo and head to the North's port of Nampo Saturday en route to five other North Korean ports.

A government official said Seoul plans to complete the shipment of the 500-thousand tons of rice by December in accordance with an agreement signed by the two Koreas earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Seoul will conduct 20 inspections to ensure fair distribution of the aid at four distribution sites along North Korea's east and west coasts after the delivery of the first batch is completed.