South Korea approves €4.5m aid for North

South Korea has approved US$6m (€4.5m) in government aid for vaccines, medical care and food for North Korean children.

Seoul said it is the first such humanitarian aid set aside for Pyongyang since President Park Geun-hye took office in February.

Seoul’s Unification Ministry said today that it will send Unicef the money tomorrow. Seoul last provided aid through the UN agency in 2011.

Mr Park has vowed a tough response to any North Korean provocations but has also worked to build trust and encourage dialogue.

The aid comes as the two Koreas remain deadlocked over efforts to restart a jointly-run factory park in North Korea that has been closed since Pyongyang withdrew its workers in April.

Pyongyang has not responded to a call by Seoul in late July for another round of talks.