North Korea says it will accept the antiviral drug Tamiflu South Korea offered to provide to help the North stem the spread of H1N1 influenza.

The Ministry of Unification offered to provide assistance to the North to fight the new flu through the truce village of Panmunjeom on Thursday.

Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said Seoul plans to send Tamiflu rather than vaccines to treat the H1N1 flu.

He added that the ministry is currently discussing with the Health Ministry on the amount of Tamiflu to be sent to the North.

The government plans to have further contacts with the North at Panmunjeom to decide on the timing and procedure for the provision of Tamiflu.