SEOUL, February 24. /ITAR-TASS/. South Korea has offered a helping hand to North Korea to fight an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the South Korean Unification Ministry said.

This has been North Korea’s first such outbreak for the past three years.

South Korea, in particular, is set to send disinfectants and medical prevention means to the neighbor, if it gets the relevant request.

Several days ago, North Korea confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at a pig farm in a suburb of Pyongyang on January 8. The disease spread to 17 areas of Pyongyang and other provinces. To stop the spread of the disease 2,900 pigs had been culled. However, the infection continues to affect North Korea over the lack of vaccines, diagnostics means and disinfectants.

Seoul invited Pyongyang to hold talks at any suitable time and to discuss provision of humanitarian aid, the Unification Ministry said.