The government says it has not yet decided whether to provide food aid to North Korea.

Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said discussions on the issue were under way. He noted that one of the most important factors in the South's decision is the food condition in the North.

The spokesman added that Pyongyang recently expressed its willingness to accept food donations from an unspecified private organization.

Meanwhile, the U.N. World Food Program has begun emergency relief operations for the North.