WASHINGTON: The United States said it intends to send 500,000 tonnes of emergency food aid to North Korea over the next year following a deal with Pyongyang that allows broad monitoring of deliveries. It said the two sides "have reached an understanding on the parameters of a program for the resumption of US food assistance for the North Korean people," adding it will begin deliveries in June. In a statement, the US Agency for International Development said about 400,000 tonnes will be distributed by the World Food Program and about 100,000 tonnes via US non-government organizations. The two sides agreed on a "framework to allow WFP and NGO staff broad geographic access to populations in need and the ability to effectively monitor the distribution of US commodities," it said.