SEOUL - The Republic of Korea's Red Cross on Wednesday offered flood relief supplies worth 5 billion won ($4.7 million) to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The decision comes after Pyongyang's state media reported earlier this week that the country was hit hard by torrential rains between late June and mid-July. Some 8,000 people are reportedly displaced as heavy downpours destroyed 29,000 houses.

The humanitarian relief aid will be delivered via a land route, according to the Red Cross.

ROK had virtually suspended aid to its northern neighbor following two deadly border incidents last year that altogether killed 50 South Koreans, only allowing humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable.

The DPRK denies its responsibility for the incidents and refuses to apologize for any of them.

In what many said might be a sign of warming inter-Korean ties, the ROK's government recently approved flour aid to its northern neighbor, the first food aid since the two sides exchanged fire near their disputed sea border last November.