Washington - The United States plans to ship 500,000 metric tons of food to North Korea within the next year after Pyongyang asked for help to address a shortage crisis, the US government said Friday.

The United States agreed to resume shipments for the first time in about three years after North Korea agreed to allow more stringent monitoring to ensure the food reaches the the right people, the US Agency for International Development said.

The US government will begin the year-long shipments in June after North Korea "explained to the United States that it faces a major shortfall in food supplies."

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the aid was not related to the nuclear disarmament agreement with North Korea but instead designed to address the food crisis.

Four hundred thousand metric tons will be sent through the UN World Food Programme and another 100,000 metric tons will be distributed through a non-governmental organization. (dpa)