Relations between the two Koreas soured after North Korea defied international warnings and fired seven missiles on July 5. South Korea on Friday offered a one time aid package worth US$10 million to help its neighbor cope with massive floods in July.

Han Wan-sang said in an interview with KBS radio he hoped South and North Korean Red Cross officials would hold talks soon about the aid plan so that shipments can begin next week.

When asked whether that would include as much as 100,000 tons of rice, Han said: “Yes, that would be a basis.”

Three major storms hit North Korea last month, causing floods that killed at least 151 people, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. A pro-North Korea paper put the death toll at 549 with 295 missing.

The flooding damaged farms and experts said the loss of crops could push the state, which already battles food shortages, to famine. The extent of the damage is not known because the secretive North Korea has limited inspections by aid groups.

Pyongyang had turned down a previous offer of help by South Korea’s Red Cross made last month but a North Korean official later said help from the South would be not be refused if it came with no strings attached.

South Korea, a major supplier of aid to the North, last month cut off its regular food aid after the North Korean missile launch, saying it could resume the aid if Pyongyang returned to stalled talks on ending its nuclear weapons program.

Seoul’s food assistance to the North last year was 500,000 tons of rice.