The UN agency will dispatch "three to five experts, including a veterinarian," to North Korea to determine what sort of assistance North Koreans will need in light of the FMD outbreak. Citing an anonymous FAO official, the report said the agency held an emergency meeting immediately after North Korea requested aid earlier this week.

 

"We're very pleased that North Korea informed us of its FMD outbreak and officially asked for help," the official said.

 

On Thursday (Feb 10), North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had been hit with the highly contagious livestock disease. FMD first broke out in the capital city, Pyongyang, late last year, and has since spread to eight provinces. The disease has claimed the lives of thousands of cows and pigs and has affected more than 10,000 others.

 

South Korea has also been battling FMD that has spread nationwide in the last three months and caused more than three million livestock to be culled. It remains unclear whether the disease spread from the South to the North.

 

In 2007, North Korea suffered outbreaks of the disease, prompting South Korea to dispatch a team of animal health experts amid a mood of reconciliation.

 

Citing recent visitors to the impoverished neighbour, South Korean officials said last month that the North is believed to be stepping up its quarantine efforts after outbreaks were reported.

 

South and North Korea are divided by one of the world's most heavily fortified borders. Most cross-border exchanges have come to a halt over the last three years.