Unification Minster Lee Jae-joung says the delayed provision of rice aid to North Korea will not affect planned inter-Korean ministerial talks next week, saying the two are separate issues.

Lee reaffirmed the Seoul government’s stance Friday, saying that it will put off delivery until the standoff over North Korean funds at a Macao bank is resolved.

At the 13th inter-Korean economic cooperation meeting last month, the Seoul government reiterated that the timetable for its provision of 400-thousand tons of rice aid could change depending on how Pyongyang moves to implement nuclear dismantlement steps as it pledged under the six-party agreement in February.

Meanwhile, North Korea said earlier in the day that it will join the 21st inter-Korean ministerial meeting slated for Tuesday in Seoul, despite a delay in the shipment of rice aid.