The government and the ruling Grand National Party have decided to consider providing emergency food aid to North Korea.

In a policy coordination meeting on Monday, the party's chief policy-maker Lee Han-koo and chairman of its special committee for inter-Korean development Jung Hyung-keun noted that the North is facing a serious food shortage. The party requested the government provide the food aid on the condition of transparent distribution.

Chief presidential security aide Kim Byung-kook and Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho said the government would take the party’s advice into consideration and make a decision based on objective data on the food shortage in the reclusive state.

Earlier, the government said it would provide humanitarian aid if serious food shortage or a natural disaster is confirmed or Pyongyang requests aid.