Seoul Resumes Shipments of Equipment to Pyongyang

Less than a week after it reopened civilian-led flour aid to North Korea, the government has approved a civic group's request to deliver ultrasound machines that can detect malaria to the North.

Two pieces of malaria diagnosis equipment will be sent over the border through the inter-Korean business park of Kaesong on Aug. 10 after officials recognized that a lack of prevention against the disease could affect South Korean citizens along the border, the Unification Ministry said.

This is the first time Seoul has permitted a transfer of equipment after sanctions were introduced in response to Pyongyang's attack on one of its warships in early 2010.