A State Department official says the United States has a budget to support North Korea in the event such assistance is required.

The official made the remark on Wednesday after economic support funding that has been earmarked annually for promoting democracy in North Korea was excluded from Washington’s budget plan for the 2012 fiscal year.

The official said that the budget managed by State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor can be used to help the North, if deemed necessary.

The official added that the U.S. currently has no plans to provide food aid to the impoverished communist state.