The South Korean government has dismissed a media report that the United States put the brakes on its planned provision of Tamiflu antiviral medication to North Korea. Korea Times file

South Korea's unification ministry dismissed a media report Wednesday that the United States has put the brakes on its planned provision of Tamiflu antiviral medication to North Korea.

A local daily newspaper reported that the U.S. expressed reservations about Seoul's move to send 200,000 doses of Tamiflu to North Korea during their recent working group session on the North.

"That is not true," Baik Tae-hyun, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. "(Sending) the influenza treatment drugs is a humanitarian issue and the U.S. has voiced its positive stance on that."

In December, the government announced the plan to send the antiviral drugs and medical detection kits to North Korea via a land route over their western border, but delivery, which had initially been scheduled for Jan. 11, has been repeatedly put off for unclear reasons.

Seoul says that logistical issues involving preparations for the cross-border delivery are holding the shipment back, but speculation is rising that sanctions might be a major factor behind the protracted delay.

The ministry handling inter-Korean affairs earlier said that it discussed the matter with the U.S. through a working-group session held last month to make sure it does not violate sanctions.

A ministry official said that Washington does not take issue with the medication itself but conveyed its opinion that the cargo trucks needing to transport it could violate sanctions against North Korea.

Asked about the concerns over sanctions violations, the spokesperson did not elaborate.

Concerns are rising that a further delay could render the drugs ineffective in treating influenza patients as the peak season for the disease is nearing an end.

"We share a view that the drugs should be delivered as soon as possible. Still, I have to say that we should closely consult with the international community and relevant countries not to cause any sanctions-related problems in the process," the spokesperson said.

"I can say that the government's stance on providing humanitarian assistance to North Korea remains unchanged," he added.

The Tamiflu provision plan was based on information that about 150,000 North Korean people were confirmed to have been infected with influenza from late 2017 to early 2018. The leaders of the Koreas earlier agreed to work together to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The medicine, if delivered, would be the first consignment since Seoul delivered around 400,000 doses of Tamiflu and 100,000 doses of Relenza antiviral drugs loaded on eight trucks to North Korea in 2009.

In 2017, South Korea unveiled a plan to provide US$8 million worth of assistance to North Korea through global humanitarian organizations, but it has yet to be executed amid apparent concerns that such a move could hurt a global alliance to resolve the North's nuclear problem. (Yonhap)