North Korea is ready to provide all technical conditions necessary for the delivery of U.S. food aid, the official news agency KCNA said Saturday.

The United States announced Friday that it will send 500,000 tons of food to North Korea, beginning in June.

Of the food aid, 100,000 tons are to be offered through NGOs in the United States and the remaining 400,000 tons through the World Food Program, said the KCNA.

North Korea and U.S. experts will meet in Pyongyang soon to ensure the delivery of the first shipment of food before late June, the news agency said.

North Korea is facing major food shortages due to floods last year and other factors. Officials of the two countries held meetings on food aid in Pyongyang in early May.

"The food aid of the U.S. government would help settle the food shortage in North Korea to a certain extent and contribute to promoting the understanding and confidence between the peoples of the two countries," said the KCNA.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2008)