Japan will consider providing between 200,000 tons and 300,000 tons of rice to North Korea when the World Food Program makes an appeal for food aid to the country, according to government sources.

The government and the three ruling parties will hold discussions on the food assistance and try to reach a decision by the time South Korean President Kim Dae Jung visits Japan next week, the sources said Thursday.

The food assistance would follow the 100,000 tons of rice Japan shipped to North Korea in March.