No decision on N Korea food aid yet: State Dept.

WASHINGTON, June 30 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Thursday it is still assessing the results of its delegation's recent trip to North Korea to gauge the food situation there.
"Nothing new on food aid, no decisions have been made, continuing to assess," State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a press briefing.
The U.S. sent a team of government officials and experts to North Korea in late May to see how serious the food shortage is and discuss monitoring and other terms for possible food delivery. Robert King, special envoy for North Korean human rights, led the delegation.
Whether or when Washington will decide on food aid is the most frequently asked question on Korea in the department's daily press briefing these days.
Toner reaffirmed that Washington hopes to see the easing of tensions between the two Koreas.
"We've been clear that the first step for the DPRK is to improve North-South relations," he said. The DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
With regard to rumors that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il canceled a planned trip to Russia this week, Toner said he has no information.
"I'm not his travel agent," he said.
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