WASHINGTON, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States is considering providing food aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and an experts meeting will be held in the near future to discuss the issue, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Tuesday.

    "We have had some useful discussions concerning the parameters of a program for the resumption of U.S. food assistance for the North Korean people. North Korea has been open in saying that it faces a major shortfall in food supplies," Perino said at the daily briefing.

    "We have discussed providing additional assistance. One way to do that would be through NGOs and through the World Food Program," Perino said.

    "I believe an experts meeting is going to be convened in the near future to talk about how to begin detailed implementation of the program," Perino said, adding that a formal statement on the issue will be issued by the State Department.

    Earlier Tuesday, local media reported that the United States would provide 500,000 tons of food aid to the DPRK.

    A U.S. food aid delegation visited the DPRK last week and held talks with the DPRK side on humanitarian food aid, and there have been reports claiming that the United States will provide 500,000 tons of food aid to the DPRK.

    The DPRK was facing food shortages due to last year's floods. A delegation from the World Food Program reportedly will be in Pyongyang soon to discuss food aid to the DPRK.