The United States says it is leaving open the possibility of providing humanitarian aid to North Korea.

State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said 'yes' when asked during a daily briefing Thursday if Washington would provide humanitarian assistance to Pyongyang despite economic sanctions against the communist state. He did not provide further details.

Kelly only said that the U.S. has provided humanitarian aid to many countries with the focus on helping to relieve suffering.

Kelly’s comment marks the first time that Washington addressed humanitarian aid to Pyongyang since new U.N. sanctions were imposed on the reclusive state for conducting a second nuclear test on May 25th.

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