The South Korean government announced yesterday that it will deliver 5,100 tons of steel plates to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Dec. 17.

The steel shipment is a part of a multilateral deal that involves the provision of energy or alternatives to the DPRK in exchange for the DPRK's disablement of its nuclear facilities by the end of this year.

It will be the first alternative to oil sent to the DPRK under the agreement.

According to local media, the steel will be shipped from South Korea's Pohang port to the DPRK's Nampo port.

Under an agreement reached in February this year by the six parties, including South Korea, the DPRK, the United States, China, Russia and Japan, the DPRK will receive 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil and energy-related equipment or alternate products. In return, the DPRK should declare all of its nuclear programs by the end of the year.