North Korea has asked a South Korean civic group for assistance in the aftermath of an apartment collapse that occurred in Pyongyang in May.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do said in a news briefing on Monday that the Korea Rescue Association applied for permission for a visit to North Korea last month after receiving the request from the North’s state construction company.

Kim said that the government needed to verify the request because the apartment collapse happened on May 13th and the North had announced rescue operations were completed.

He added that the state construction company, General Pulkunbyol (Red Star) Construction Bureau, has never previously sent an invitation to South Korea.

The North is said to have asked the South Korean civic group to send disinfection equipment as the cleanup of the accident site was almost completed.

The spokesman said that the ministry plans to decide this week on whether to approve the civic group’s visit to the North as the group re-applied for permission on June 26th.

A 23-story apartment building in Pyongyang collapsed on May 13, causing hundreds of casualties.