(VOVworld) - South Korean non-governmental organizations (NGOs) started shipping humanitarian aid to North Korea on Monday. The move comes after the South’s Unification Ministry early last week allowed 12 local NGOs to send goods to the North. It shows that Seoul is open to offering urgent humanitarian assistance to the North despite sanctions imposed by the United Nations and strained cross-border relations. This is the second time under the Park Geun-hye administration that Seoul has approved shipments of medicine, food, and other basic materials to the North.

North Korean will receive medicine, food, and basic materials under the humanitarian aid offered by South Korean NGOs. (Photo: Reuters)

The ministry said 8 other NGOs will be permitted to ship aid once the North commits that aid will be distributed in a transparent manner.