South Korea will actively push to expand economic cooperation with the DPRK as part of its efforts to resolve the nuclear issue, the Unification Ministry said Thursday.

The ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said it will focus its efforts on the DPRK's agriculture, an area DPRK has designated as a policy priority for this year in an apparent move to ease its chronic food shortages.

"We will manage the Korean situation in a stable manner through consistent inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, seek resolutionof nuclear issue and lay the groundwork for the development of inter-Korean relations as well as peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia," the ministry said in a report to President Roh Moo-hyun.

As part of its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to young and elderly people, the most vulnerable members of society, the ministry said it will push to establish trust funds at U.N. reliefagencies and the International Vaccine Institute.

The ministry said it will make coordinated diplomatic efforts with its regional partners to ensure the early resumption of nuclear talks while also working to prevent the situation from further worsening.

Source: Xinhua