U.S. says it 'understands' EU's food aid

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with comments on Wendy Sherman, other details) By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, July 5 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Tuesday that it "understands" the European Union's decision to provide North Korea with food aid but stressed that it will make its own decision on aid. "We have noted the EU's move. We have talked to the EU about its move. And we understand their decision. We have not made our own decision," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing. The EU announced earlier this week that it will send food aid worth 10 million euros, or US$14.5 million, to North Korea, said to be suffering a severe food shortage. The EU's decision follows a June trip by a team to assess the food situation there. The EU said its plan for the food shipment is to save the lives of 650,000 vulnerable residents in the communist nation despite long-stalled denuclearization efforts. The first batch of delivery, apparently non-rice products, is scheduled to arrive there next month. Observers said the EU's initiative will put pressure on the U.S. and South Korea, which are considering similar assistance. Nuland sidestepped a question on whether the U.S. welcomes the EU's decision, instead choosing the word "understand." When asked if the EU's move will affect Washington's consideration of aid, she did not give a direct answer either. "Obviously, we are in close touch with the EU on these issues, as we are in close touch on all of the issues that we work on around the world," she said. The U.S. sent a separate delegation to the North in late May to verify its claim that it is in urgent need of food. The nuclear-tipped North has long relied on food handouts from foreign nations, mainly China and South Korea. Seoul delivered 200,000-300,000 tons of rice to Pyongyang each year under the so-called sunshine policy before the current Lee Myung-bak government was inaugurated in early 2008 on a pledge to link such aid with a denuclearization process. U.S. officials have been calling for measures to guarantee the transparent distribution of food. On the nomination of Wendy Sherman as under secretary for political affairs, Nuland said her department hails the White House's choice. She refused to confirm reports that Sherman, a former Clinton administration official known for efforts to engage North Korea, will mainly deal with North Korea and other Asia affairs, while Bill Burns, nominated to be deputy secretary of state, focuses on Europe and the Middle East. "It will be premature to talk about the likely division of labor," she said, in that they have yet to be confirmed by the Senate. She said Sherman is "very experienced" in Asia issues, in particular Korea issues.