The South Korean government has lifted some of its restrictions on shipping products to North Korea. It had placed the bans after North Korea fired a long-range rocket in April 2009.

A Unification Ministry official said it had lifted a shipping embargo on farming and medical equipment worth close to 900-million won. The items have been stored for nine months in a warehouse near the Incheon port. The official said the move was an exception to the ban in response to petitions saying that groups supporting North Korea were spending tens of millions of won in storage fees.

The official said however that the bans on other materials would remain in effect unless there is progress on the North Korean nuclear issue.

Since North Korea fired its rocket in 2009, the South Korean government has allowed only the shipment of emergency medical supplies and food as part of humanitarian aid.