The government will gradually lift its restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian supplies to North Korea as early as this week.

Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung told reporters Tuesday that shipment of humanitarian aid by South Korean civic groups will head for the communist state possibly within the week.

He did not say when the shipment would take place, saying the exact date of the delivery and volume of shipment would depend on the situation of related civic groups, as well as the conditions of ships that will be making the delivery.

Chun said the government will allow the delivery of urgent supplies first, including construction material and equipment.

Shortly after Pyongyang launched a rocket on April fifth, South Korea banned the shipment of aid to North Korea, excluding medicine and daily necessities.

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