South Korea plans to send around 50,000 tonnes of rice to North Korea

South Korea plans to send around 50,000 tonnes of rice to North Korea, its first food donation to the  nation in a decade.

A severe drought, compounded by economic sanctions, has led to chronic food shortages in North Korea.

South Korea's unification ministry said the rice will be delivered "as soon as possible".The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) will be in charge of overseeing the food donation.