(LEAD) S. Korea OKs aid group's plan to provide hand sanitizers to N. Korea amid coronavirus fears

All Headlines 14:00 April 02, 2020

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 5-6, photo)

SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has approved a local nonprofit organization's plan to provide hand sanitizers to North Korea to support Pyongyang's anti-coronavirus efforts, a unification ministry official has said, in the first such move this year amid chilly inter-Korean relations.

The approval was granted Tuesday, allowing the organization to supply hand sanitizers worth around 100 million won (US$81,000), the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

He said the money has been funded by the organization but declined to share details on the identity of the organization and when and how the sanitizers would be transferred to the North.

This marked the first time this year that the government has allowed a civilian aid group to provide assistance to the North.

The official said other aid groups have requested state approval of planned assistance to the North, but they have failed to meet the requirements.

Regarding state-level help for North Korea, he declined to elaborate, saying the government will take into account relevant factors to determine the appropriate timing and methods.

Inter-Korean relations have stalled since the no-deal summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump about a year ago. Pyongyang has since not responded to Seoul's repeated offers for cross-border cooperation and talks.

North Korea has said it has no confirmed coronavirus infections, but observers said the reclusive country might be covering up an outbreak and be in dire need of outside help to stem the spread of COVID-19.