North Korea has allowed firefighting helicopters from South Korea to enter the Demilitarized Zone to put out a wildfire raging there.

South Korea's military asked the North for helicopter access in the DMZ, to which Pyongyang agreed on the condition that they not fly over the Military Demarcation Line, where most of the fires are.

The choppers are expected to leave Saturday to ensure the throughness of security measures before the operation begins.

The request was made through the U-N Forces Command Friday morning, and the Nort's approval came at 1:30 pm.