"I think the food issue should be reviewed, irrespective of the security issue, from the humanitarian aspect, especially as the same compatriots," he told reporters. Korea was split into two after the liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonization.

The government will soon make public detailed plans for the food assistance, he added.

On the missiles North Korea recently fired, Chung said South Korea and the United States are still analyzing whether they are ballistic missiles or not.

He was responding to a news report that the US Forces Korea has "provisionally" concluded that the rockets fired on May 4 and 9 were new short-range ballistic missiles.

Chung played down the report, saying it does not reflect the USFK's official position.

Asked about the possibility of South Korea sending a special envoy to North Korea to lay the groundwork for another bilateral summit, he avoided a direct answer. He just said it's being "reviewed all the time." (Yonhap)