North Korea on Monday accepted Seoul’s flood relief aid, raising hopes for the improvement of cross-border ties chilled for two years, the Unification Ministry said.

“The North notified through the Red Cross channel at Panmunjeom that it would receive flood assistance,” said an official of the ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs.

Last Monday, the South’s Red Cross chief sent a proposal calling for talks with the impoverished North on aid shipment.

It would be Seoul’s first official assistance in two years though civilian groups have been allowed to send aid.

Pyongyang’s state news agency said that floods in June and July left 569 people dead or missing and washed away or inundated 65,280 hectares (161,310 acres) of cropland.

The upcoming inter-Korean talks will be closely watched with regard to other pending bilateral issues, such as the resumption of reunions of separated families and the suspended joint tour program to the North’s Mount Geumgang.

(From news reports)