ROK approves fertilizer aid to DPRK first in 5 years

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea on Monday approved a fertilizer aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for the first time in five years.

A foundation of the ROK doing DPRK aid business was granted its plan to build vinyl greenhouse in the DPRK's southwestern region, Unification Ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told a press briefing.

Seven businessmen of the foundation will visit the DPRK via a land route from Tuesday to Saturday, carrying 200 million won ($186, 000) of agricultural materials, including vinyl and pipe, along with 15 tons of fertilizer.

It was the first time since May in 2010 that the ROK government gave a green light to a private company's fertilizer aid to the DPRK.

The ROK imposed the May 24 sanctions in 2010 after the country's Cheonan warship sank off the west coast on March 26 in the same year. The sanctions banned all inter-Korean cooperation except the Kaesong industrial complex.

Seoul said the sinking was caused by a DPRK torpedo attack, but Pyongyang repeatedly denied its involvement.

The spokesman said that the ROK will continue to approve a humanitarian aid to the DPRK, which ensures transparency and helps improve DPRK people's living in the agricultural and forestry sectors.

With the approval of the fertilizer aid, many other private companies of the ROK doing DPRK aid business are expected to apply for the sending of fertilizers to the North.