South Korea has started sending 50,000 tons of rice to North Korea overland as part of its promised rice aid of 400,000 tons.

Some 2,500 25-ton trucks will be used to transport the rice, which will run over the next five weeks.

Of the 50,000 tons, 30,000 tons will go to the North Korean city of Gaesong, arriving from Goyang in the South. The remaining rice will be sent to Goseong from Sokcho, a port in the northern region of the Gangwon Province.

This is the third time South Korea has sent rice to the North via overland routes since 2004.

Korea Express will deliver 2,500-tons of rice aid to North Korea four times a week.