North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA has reported on the U.S. plan to provide 500-thousand tons of food aid to the North.

The Korean Central News Agency said Saturday that the food aid will help relieve the North's food shortages and boost trust and understanding between the peoples of the two countries as well.

The KCNA report coming only 12 hours after the U.S. Agency for International Development announced the food aid plan is viewed as unusually prompt and an indirect expression of gratitude.

The report also said North Korea is ready to guarantee working-level conditions for the food assistance, apparently referring to its agreement to monitoring activities to ensure transparency in food distribution.

North Korea and the United States held talks in Pyongyang on May sixth and seventh to discuss the food aid.