Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korea has proposed sending aid to North Korea to assist with damages caused by torrential rain that hit the peninsula last week, the South's Ministry of Unification said.
Seoul has proposed to send 5 billion won ($4.7 million) worth of medical and essential goods from the Korean Red Cross via the east and west roads that connect the two countries across the demilitarized zone, the ministry said.
The ministry said the decision was based on helping North Koreans who are suffering from flood damages.
The move is widely seen as a conciliatory gesture from Seoul.
Inter-Korean relations have been strained since the sinking of a South Korean warship Cheonan 16 months ago and the shelling of South Korea's Yeongpyong Island in November.