South Korean donations of Tamiflu packed into trucks heading for North Korea in 2009. Korea Times file

South Korea will provide North Korea about 200,000 doses of Tamiflu antiviral medication and other medical material this week, the unification ministry said Tuesday.

The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Council has set aside about 3.56 billion won (US$3.2 million) for the project, the ministry said.

The council, made up of government officials and civilian experts, reviews important policies and decisions related to inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects.

"The government expects the drugs will improve the health and medical conditions of North Korean citizens and prevent the spread of influenza that could occur in the process of personnel exchanges between the Koreas, thereby contributing to the health of citizens in both the South and the North," the ministry said.

The drugs will be delivered to the North on Friday through a land route on the western inter-Korean border. About 10 government officials will visit the North's border town of Gaeseong to hand over the drugs.

Along with the drugs, they will also deliver about 50,000 early medical detection kits, donated by a private entity, a ministry official said.

In December, South Korea announced a plan to provide Tamiflu and early medical detection kits to North Korea. Their leaders agreed in September to cooperate closely in fighting the spread of infectious diseases.

Seoul recently discussed the drug plan with the United States through a joint working group session on North Korea to make sure the assistance does not violate sanctions.

In 2009, Seoul provided around 400,000 doses of Tamiflu and 100,000 doses of Relenza antiviral drugs to North Korea through a land route across their western border. (Yonhap)