The government held on-site inspections in North Korea Wednesday to check on the distribution of rice aid provided to the North this year.

A five-member team visited food stations and interviewed locals in four areas, two each in Gaesong and Goseong, during which the North thanked the South for the rice aid.

North Korean officials willingly cooperated for a smooth inspection and reportedly said they would strive for transparent and even distribution.

At the 10th inter-Korean economic cooperation committee meeting in July, the two Koreas agreed to 500,000 tons in rice aid and field inspections for each delivery of 100,000 tons.