North Korea has accepted an offer of assistance from Seoul in the fight against A (H1N1) influenza.

During a meeting of officials from both countries in the border town of Panmunjom, South Korea agreed to send a supply of Tamiflu to its northern neighbour. On Wednesday, North Korea confirmed that a number of people had been diagnosed with A (H1N1). South Korea offered to send medicines immediately it heard the news.

In the past year, humanitarian aid from the south has been very limited as a result of worsened bilateral relations caused by a nuclear test conducted by Pyongyang. The North Korean authorities say nine people have been diagnosed with A (H1N1), but experts from the south say at least 10 people have died of the flu and an even larger number have been infected.

Photo: Tamiflu capsules (Fliickr/w00kie)