South Korea has denied it sent face masks to North Korea to help prevent Covid-19 after rumours began circulating in the country.

"The government has not provided any masks to North Korea, nor has any non-governmental organisation sought permission from the government to send masks to help the North," Yoh Sang-key, a spokesman for South Korea’s Ministry of Unification said on Thursday.

He also called on the public to stay alert about disinformation, saying those spreading it would be held accountable in court.

A few days ago, local South Korean broadcaster YTN aired video footage showing a North Korean medical worker wearing a mask from the South Korean company Yuhan Kimberly. This triggered rumours about President Moon Jae-in's administration secretly sending masks to the North, according to The Korea Times.

A South Korean official said the masks might have entered North Korea through China.

South Korea has banned the export of face masks as it struggles with shortages of them.