The Unification Ministry says it spent 27-point-six billion won in inter-Korean cooperation funds this year through May.

Most of the funds went toward loans for economic cooperation projects and trade, while some went to humanitarian aid efforts.

The amount is a little over two percent of the one-point-one trillion won in total inter-Korean cooperation funds earmarked for this year. The ministry attributes the low rate of spending to inter-Korean tensions following North Korea's sinking of the Cheonan warship.