SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ South Korea has lifted its block on donating medicine to North Korea via the World Health Organization, amid signs of easing tension between the countries.

South Korea previously had donated to a WHO program to send medicine and medical supplies to the North, but asked the organization to suspend the contribution after Pyongyang allegedly torpedoed a South Korean warship last year.

The South Korean government said Tuesday that it has accepted WHO's request for using its remaining donation totaling about $7 million.

There have been recent glimmers of hopes on the peninsula, with diplomats seeking to restart nuclear disarmament talks and Seoul easing restriction on civilian travel to the North.