Seoul mulls aid package for North Korea

SEOUL, May 11 (UPI) -- The South Korean government is on the verge of approving a $9.6 million aid package for North Korea, an official said Sunday.

The Yonhap news agency reported South Korea is likely to approve the humanitarian aid for its neighbor to the north despite chilled relations with the reclusive communist government in Pyongyang.

If approved, the aid will match funds raised by civic organizations spearheading relief efforts, said an official, who spoke to the news agency on the condition of anonymity.

Seoul's new conservative government has vowed to link any non-humanitarian assistance for North Korea to progress in international talks aimed at ridding the North of its nuclear programs.

"The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Committee will hold its first meeting since the inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak administration on Thursday, and vote on the amount of funds to be provided to civilian humanitarian projects this year," the official at the Ministry of Unification said.

The ministry has been reviewing about 60 requests for matching funds since late February, Yonhap said.