The Unification Ministry has approved a cross-border visit from June second to sixth by Buddhist priest Cheondam who is board chair of the World Peace Foundation.

The North Korea visit will mark the first purely civilian inter-Korean exchange approved under the Moon Jae-in administration.

The Buddhist monk filed a request for the visit after receiving an invitation from North Korea. 

The Venerable Cheondam will reportedly discuss with North Korean Buddhist officials a proposal to restore Yujeom Temple in Mount Geumgang, which was destroyed during the Korean War. 

A Unification Ministry official said the visit is for religious exchanges with the North and the approval is part of efforts to facilitate cross-border exchanges in various fields.