The government has decided it will not approve a South Korean civic group’s visit to North Korea to offer assistance in the aftermath of an apartment collapse in Pyongyang.
 
A Unification Ministry official said Thursday that Seoul will not approve the Korea Rescue Association’s visit to the North given the incident occurred nearly two months ago and there is evidence that a new construction project is under way at the site. The official added it is too late for the civic group to visit North Korea to help rescue victims or clean the debris.
 
Earlier on June 9, the Korea Rescue Association applied for permission to visit North Korea after receiving a request for help from the North’s state construction company three days earlier.
 
At the time, the Unification Ministry rejected the civic group’s application as the North Korean state construction company and its request weeks after the collapse were questionable.
 
The association re-applied for permission on June 26, and the ministry made its final decision.