South Korea's Red Cross will begin shipment of five-thousand tons of rice aid late next month to flood-stricken North Korea.

An official in Seoul said Sunday that the rice shipment will depart from the port of Incheon on October 25th and should arrive in the North Korean city of Sinuiju through the adjoining Chinese city of Dandong.

Other aid items to be sent in stages include ten-thousand tons of cement, three million packs of instant noodles and medical goods.

The government will report the aid Tuesday to the National Assembly and convene a committee on inter-Korean exchanges to approve use of the inter-Korean cooperation fund for the assistance.