A Chinese frontier policeman checks sacks of rice

South Korea plans to use part of its mandatory rice imports as aid to other countries, possibly including North Korea, the government said Friday.
South Korea is set to liberalize its rice market through tariffication starting next year, which requires revisions to its agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) that prohibits rice imported under quota, known as minimum market access (MMA), from being used as aid to a third country.