U.N. to give sanction exemptions on North Korea aid projects

The U.N. Security Council sanctions committee on North Korea is to give exemptions for humanitarian aid projects in the impoverished country, diplomatic sources in Seoul said Friday.

The nuclear-armed country is under multiple sets of U.N. sanctions over its weapons programs and has long struggled with its moribund state-managed economy and chronic food shortages.

The 17 humanitarian assistance projects are all being implemented by major international organizations such as UNICEF, or by NGOs from South Korea and the United States, the sources said.